ZACC nabs local government officials over land scam

THE Zimbabwe-Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has busted four former Ministry of Local government officials for illegally parceling out land to non-deserving beneficiaries.

The four were picked up by Zacc officials Thursday. The accused are former Secretary to the State land committee in the Ministry of Local Government Andrew Shawatu, Chimoga Lean who was the acting Director Legal Department and Mudzinge Priscillar former Director Urban Planning and member of the State land Allocations committee, Daisy Mtyambizi Deputy Director Spatial Planning in the Department of Urban Council and member of the Stateland Allocations Committee.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) led by Loice Matanda-Moyo

According to court papers the four are accused of writing letters of recommendations to the Permanent Secretary preferring their relatives and close associates who where not on the waiting list.

Some of the beneficiaries did not have identity to show that they deserved the land.

“Investigations carried out revealed that the accused persons connived and wrote memorandums to the Secretary recommending the allocation of residential stands in Acorn, they however sought for the approval while disregarding dictates of the State land Management Manual part 2 Subsection (G1-4),” read a papers seen by this publication.

“In their memorandums accused persons acting in common purpose misrepresented to the Secretary by recommending the allocation to be done to people who were not on the General waiting list, priority list, consideration for allocation and there were no other exceptional circumstances, this was contrary and inconsistent with their duties thereby showing favor to their relatives and cronies,” further read the papers.

The four are said to have parceled out more than 760 hectares of land with the influence of former Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo who is also facing charges on illegal land allocation.

Chombo is currently facing jail time after he was arrested in 2019 for abuse of office. He allegedly allocated himself more than 125 residential stands without authority during his time as a cabinet minister. It is believed that the four used their proximity to Chombo to carry out the illegal activities and they would get away with it without scrutiny.

They are expected to appear in court Friday afternoon after been detained at Rhodesville police station.