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Cde Chieza

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Under-fire Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial youth chairperson Cde Nobert Ndaarombe and some members of the ruling party national youth executive, have been accused of swindling youths in Chiredzi of more than $30 000 after promising them residential stands in the sugar cane growing town.

Cde Ndaarombe and Zanu-PF Youth League national secretary for Science and Technology Development Cde Martin Zinyoro, together with Zimbabwe Youth Council Chiredzi chair Cde Simba Huchu, allegedly duped nearly 3 000 ruling party youths of their hard-earned money.

The trio allegedly made ruling party youths in Chiredzi to pay registration fees ranging from $10 to $20 per person under the guise that the money would be used to develop residential stands on 100 hectares of land that had been availed by President Mugabe for youths. Those who paid $10 were supposed to get a high density stand and those who paid $20 would get a medium density stand.

The youths allegedly made the payment to a Chiredzi-based company, Rhino Projects, some of whose directors are believed to be Cdes Zinyoro and Huchu. Zanu-PF provincial youth league secretary for Economic Affairs Cde Phillip Chieza yesterday threatened to engage the police if the duped youths were not reimbursed.

He said youths in Chiredzi had for a long time complained about lack of transparency in the housing stands project.

Cde Huchu

“Youths in Chiredzi started complaining about this project way back, but they were being shot down. We have since resolved that if all the youths are not paid back their money by the end of this week then we will make a report to the police,” said Cde Chieza.

Cde Chieza’s sentiments were echoed by Chiredzi Urban Zanu-PF Ward 6 Youth chairman Cde Israel Lungu, who said several youths were threatened with expulsion from Zanu-PF after demanding transparency in the Rhino Projects residential stands scheme. He said at one time they tried to engage ousted Zanu-PF Youth League national secretary Cde Kudzanayi Chipanga for help, to no avail.

“We heard some of our money was being splashed in Russia during a recent visit by some Zanu-PF Youth League leaders led by Cde Chipanga. I personally appealed to Cde Chipanga that youths in Chiredzi were not happy with Rhino Projects and he ignored me,” said Cde Lungu.

According to leaked minutes of a meeting which was held in Chiredzi on August 3, Cde Huchu claimed they had finished baseline surveys of the stands, while a “topographic survey” was almost done. Cde Huchu allegedly told the meeting that all the planning work on the residential stands was billed for completion during the following month.

When The Herald visited Rhino Projects offices to check progress on the development of the 100ha land into residential stands, the offices were deserted. When contacted for comment, Cde Zinyoro referred all questions regarding Rhino Projects to Cde Huchu, who said the residential stands project was now a Chiredzi Town Council baby.

“I am not obligated to give you any information, however, when all process have been completed council will inform us because the land is still in their hands right now,” he said.