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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
City of Gweru has embarked on a land forensic audit amid indications that the local authority might have lost millions of dollars in potential revenue to the unscrupulous sale of stands, plan approvals and permits by previous councils.

Town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza in a notice said her council is currently undertaking a land audit.

“Notice to individuals who bought stands in Gweru. City of Gweru is currently undertaking a land audit and is kindly requesting those who bought, industrial (heavy/light/service), commercial, institutional (churches and schools), residential stands from Gweru City Council during the period January 2009 to date and have queries relating to the purchase of their stands to come forward and discuss the queries with the Chairperson of the Land Audit at the Civic Centre in office number 361 second floor,” said Ms Gwatipedza.

“Kindly bring documents/information relating to the stand including offer letter, receipts for payments made, sale agreement, approved building plans, plan approval fees receipts and construction stage forms.”

Ms Gwatipedza said the individuals are to bring the information to council offices by tomorrow.

Council officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the land audit was long overdue since several illegal structures feeding into council service delivery system and yet bringing zero benefits to council needed to be exposed and formally legalised.

“A lot of in fills now have stands which are not in the council system. So we need the land audit to bring normalcy so that council benefits from rates and water services,” said a council official. In March 2007, Ms Gwatipedza told this publication the council will institute an audit following the sacking of former mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi.

She said the audit will among other things look into land sales, adding that during Kombayi’s tenure, council allegedly lost substantial amounts of money in potential revenue from the sale of stands, plan approvals and permits.