By Correspondent
A piece of land which was sold by a cabal of Mwonzora-aligned councillors in 2021 has come back to haunt Marondera Council.
Residents who operate in the area are now up in arms against them pushing for a reversal of the deal.
Marondera Mayor Chengetayi Murowa confirmed the development.
“Yes it is true, the council sold the land popularly known as ‘Mudurawall’ where most of SMEs operates.
“It’s very unfortunate that the land was sold when we were recalled by Douglasls Mwonzora,” he said.
Marondera Residents Open Forum Director Tapiwa Chengeta has since called for Marondera to engage residents over the matter.
“We wish to remind council to follow laid down procedures in land sales.
“Among other things are consultations which enable residents to have an input into the development of the town to which they are so indebted to.
“We also believe that among the processes of selling is the issue of advertising.
“This allows the input of critical stakeholders, a key process which residents did not see,” he said.
Chengeta said the sold area was a hub for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with hundreds depending on that it.
Festival Of Illegalities
The Councillors sold the prime land, which is in the CBD, without following laid down procedure in selling land.
By law the council should advertise the land they intend to sale and engage stakeholders before they sell it.
According to Section 114 of the Local Government Act 2020, the council must provide for a public notice period of at least four weeks prior to selling.
It should also undertake a community engagement process in accordance with its community engagement policy.
However, Council failed to address all those areas.
However, all the Mwonzora-aligned Councillors, formerly part of the land deal, are no longer at Council.
Mwonzora had a brief reign at the apex of the opposition after the Supreme Court ruled that then MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa had unprocedurally taken over power.
More than 40 MPs and 164 councillors were subsequently recalled countrywide during his reign.
