MIRROR REPORTER

CHIREDZI – Former Chiredzi Town Council chairman, Francis Moyo has been reported to Police over a 2016 scandal in which he allegedly received 71 residential stands from the local authority and put them to his own use.

The Police report dated 23 January, 2023 was made by two residents, Boniface Mutemachani (65) of Hippo Valley Estates and Clemence Saidi (67) of 1742 Javangwe in Ward 6 who have since instructed their lawyers Chadyiwa and Associates to pursue the matter.

Visit The Mirror website www.masvingomirror.com  or visit @TheMirrorMasv twitter handle for full report on Gov investigation on Chiredzi Town Council corruption. Click the Link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MxQ8QV-7k_ebcdEumgmKuQbxFq1dw2II/view?usp=sharing

The lawyers in turn wrote to the Officer-in-Charge Chiredzi on 25 January 2023 and copied the same letter to Officer Commanding Chiredzi (Dispol) and Officer Commanding Province (Propol). They indicated in their letter theirs was a watching brief on behalf of the clients.

Moyo could be charged with abuse of duty as a public officer in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Law (codification and reform) Act chapter 9: 23, says the lawyers’ letter to the Police.

Documents in the hands of The Mirror show that Saidi and Mutemachani reported Moyo following the release last week of a damning document detailing alleged corruption at the local authority during Moyo’s tenure of office from 2013.

The damning document titled Investigation Report on Chiredzi March – April 2016 was only released after United Chiredzi Residents Association sued Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo and demanded for it. The makes findings of massive looting of council and commonage stands, alleged payment of secret allowances to councillors and council officials and shady deals between land barons and the local authority.

It also indicates that seven other councillors at the local authority received 46 residential stands each and turned themselves into land barons.

The lawyers’ letter says that the two residents to the course of action because; “the findings of the commission clearly show that ordinary residents of Chiredzi Town Council have been and continue to prejudiced by certain acts of commission or omission by the then council chairman”.

Mutemachani says in his allegations that Moyo must be arrested because he disposed 10% commonage stands and gave them to Justin Chauke Housing Cooperative, he presided over a meeting in whicbh he was allocated 71 stands and the councillors under him 46 stands each and he was driving a council vehicle when he was supposed to be driven by a council driver.

Saidi repeats the same allegations in his statement to the Police. He however, accused Moyo of allowing the local authority to sign a flawed land agreement with Shineplus, a land development company.

In an interview with The Mirror, Moyo however, dismissed the report and said he cleared his name on all allegations made against him. He however, confirmed receiving the 71 stands but said he distributed these to his ‘constituency’. However, there is no such arrangement under the law where councillors get stands for distribution to people of their choice. Residents get stands through the council waiting list.

Masvingo Police Spokesperson Kudakwashe Dhewa’s mobile went unanswered.