The Elected Councillors Association of Zimbabwe (Ecaz) and the Combined Harare Residents Association (Chra) last week told police Chiwanga should be charged for fraud.
In letter dated May 3, to Officer Commanding CID Serious Frauds, the councillors said they had evidence that Chiwanga committed fraud when “he deliberately forwarded false double land transfer information” to a local law firm that resulted in council land being transferred to a Mr Alois Chimeri without anything paid to the local authority.
The controversial piece of land, Lot K of Ntaba of Glen Lorne, was then transferred to Harvest Nest Enterprises, a company linked to the Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development Ignatius Chombo
Council records show that Chombo has acted on behalf of the Harvest Nest.
The land was later transferred to Chimeri without following requirements of Section 152 (2) of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15, says the letter.
“Mr Chiwanga’s actions effectively prejudiced the City of Harare approximately US$900 000 using the prevailing market rates of prime land in Glen Lorne,” says the letter signed by Ecaz president Warship Dumba and Chra chairperson Simbarashe Moyo.
The two residents’ representative bodies allege Chiwanga used the annual rent price from the lease agreement entered between Harare City Council and Chombo to represent the purchase price of the piece of land.
“The date of the commencement of the lease agreement was also used in the papers to the lawyers as the date of purchase of this piece of land,” says the letter.
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Dumba last week confirmed reporting the matter to police.
“Yes, we did and they gave us IR050251 (case number) and we will soon be making some follow-ups.”
Chiwanga on Saturday reacted angrily when contacted for comment.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Talk to the CID or our public relations department. You just want to trouble us,” said Chiwanga before ending the conversation.
Efforts to get a comment from CID national spokesperson Augustine Zimbili were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable while Chombo was not answering his phone.
Meanwhile, Chombo intends to surrender another controversial prime land in Helensvale, Harare, which he is accused by Harare City Council of allegedly illegally acquiring through his company, Harvest Nest Enterprises.
The committee, headed by Dumba ruled that Chombo had used his influence to acquire the land without following proper procedures.
Chombo denied the accusations.
A letter written by the secretary for local government dated March 16, to Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi, says the land is being surrendered because it falls within the Presidential security zone.
“Stand 61 Portion of Helensvale measuring 193 716 square metres in extent, falls within the security of the Presidential residence as prescribed in the security zone radius,” says the letter.
It adds, “Pursuant to the above, the state through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development is therefore requesting the city of Harare to facilitate the transfer of the above mentioned piece of land from Harvest Nest Enterprise (Pvt) Ltd to the state as a matter of urgency.”
