By Correspondent
Few months after Augur Investments won its Supreme Court case over Pomona land the murk of history refuses to go.
The latest involves a revelatory article by lawyer Tino Chinyoka in which he reveals the shady background of the project.
Tracing origins from former Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo, Chinyoka strings together a damning tapestry of a shady empire.
He reveals how vast tracts of land in Harare was siphoned away.
Chinyoka reveals how deals by Chombo, Council Commission Chair Tendai Mahachi and Augur siphoned vast lands from Harare.
“The evidence contained in this report, whose surface we have only scratched, suggests that the Airport Road Deal and the Sunshine Developments (Pvt) Ltd Joint Venture were designed to siphon vast tracts of Council land under the pretext of projects meant to benefit the City of Harare.
“To date, over 800 hectares have been transferred to Augur Investments and Sunshine Developments (Pvt) Ltd, with the City deriving no tangible benefits.
“The land transferred is equivalent to at least 19 medium-sized commercial farms or 41,664 residential stands in a highdensity suburb.
Meanwhile, the current Harare City Council Housing waiting list exceeds 500,000 applicants.
The revelations are in stark contrast to the positivity and glamour the company has been portraying.
This was most evident following conclusion of the September Supreme Court case allowing Augur free way to develop Pomona.
“The Supreme Court has ended the Pomona city land row after confirming WestProp Holdings as the actual honours.
“We are pleased to advise our stakeholders and valued customers of the outcome of the appeal filed under SC271/23.
“The ruling…..cements and confirms that indeed Stand 654 Pomona Township belongs to WestProp Holdings Ltd,” the company statement read.
Vast Developments
Westprop Holdings is owned by Augur Investments, one of Sharpe’s entities.
The company has several development across the capital city.
There is Millennium Park which has Pokugara Residential Estate consisting of 147 high end townhouses and stand-alone residential homes.
Then Millennium Heights which consists of 1000 apartments varying in sizes from studio to four bedrooms, Millennium Office Park and the flagship Mall of Zimbabwe.
Pomona City consists of the completed Phase 1A and currently under construction Phase 1 B & C consisting of 740 stands.
Sharpe has previously revealed that Phase 1 will be the last freehold titled land they will sell in the new city within a city.
From Phase 2 onwards the land will only be available on leasehold.