By Correspondent
Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Zvinechimwe Churu allegedly ordered Masvingo City Council to sell a staggering 125 hectares of industrial land to a private company for a paltry US$1.5m.
According to a leaked internal council audit report, the true value of the said land was pegged at US$5million.
Council was ordered to allocate and hand over 125 hectares of industrial land to Simbi Private Limited.
It would then approach the State Land Management section to identify alternative land as compensation.
“The price of the 125 hectares amounting to US$5 million was reached from valuation exercise.
“Council cannot accept a counter offer of US$1.5 million presented by SIMBI Pvt limited.
“That council turns down the request by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government for council to formally allocate industrial land to SIMBI Pvt limited,” reads the report.
The council said it holds title deeds to the industrial land.
Thus it felt it could not be compelled to formally allocate the land without Simbi meeting conditions of offer.
However, the former ministry boss pushed council to dispose of the land for a song.
Early this month Churu was demoted and was made the Deputy Chief Secretary, Finance and Human Resources in the same Ministry.