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Takunda Maodza Manicaland Bureau Chief
MUTARE City Council has suspended, without pay and benefits, four middle managers who were allegedly involved in the illegal parcelling of land in the eastern border town, which saw some low-density stands being sold for less than a dollar per square metre.

Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa told The Herald yesterday this was part of efforts to rid the municipality of corruption.

The hearings for Mr Tawanda Kanengoni (legal officer), Mr Christian Sithole, Mr Isadore Bingura and Mr Joachim Gonese (valuer) have been scheduled for next week.

Mr Kanengoni is facing 14 counts, Mr Bingura (13), Mr Sithole (3) and Mr Gonese (11).

Among the charges, Mr Kanengoni allegedly sold a commercial stand Number 11658 Dangamvura measuring 227 square metres to Bernard Matondo for US$2 500 without following tender procedures.

In May 2017, he is alleged to have presented to the then newly-appointed Town Clerk Mr Maligwa draft agreements of sale for the allocation of stand 27514 in Golf Course, Dangamvura, measuring 300 square metres.

He is alleged to have advised Mr Maligwa that council had authorised the allocation of the replacement stand when the agreement of sale was non-existent.

The other charges involve disposal of stands not surveyed in Fairbridge Park.

Mr Kanengoni is also accused of incompetence after he prepared agreements of sale which did not contain clauses on value added tax, servicing costs and survey fees.

Mr Bingura is accused of theft or fraud after he allegedly sold stands, including State land, and converted the money to personal use.

The other two employees, Sithole and Gonese, face charges related to the illegal sale of council stands.