Chombo to return disputed property
By Xolisani Ncube, Staff Writer
Friday, 15 April 2011 12:20
HARARE – Local government minister Ignatious Chombo will surrender the
controversial prime land in Helensvale, Harare, which he is accused by
Harare City Council of illegally acquiring through his company, Harvest Nest
Enterprises.
Chombo together with businessman Phillip Chiyangwa were named in a special
investigations report on the theft of land from the city council.
The committee, headed by councillor Warship Dumba ruled that the two had
used their influence to acquire the land without following proper
procedures.
Chombo and Chiyangwa denied the accusations, but the councillors reported
the matters to the police who have refused to investigate.
The property rich Chombo argued that his company had properly acquired the
stand in Helensvale, but investigations showed that not only was the land
meant for recreational purposes, but the minister actually instructed
council to sell it to his company for a paltry amount.
Chombo, who owns vast properties in local authorities around the country, is
now mysteriously giving up the land, probably after discovering that the
Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, had turned the heat on him and other
Zanu PF officials.
Chombo’s surrender of the property, comes as the Daily News understands that
President Robert Mugabe has challenged the MDC to bring evidence that police
commissioner general Augustine Chihuri is biased in his dealing with
politicians.
It is understood that Chombo’s case is among many contained in a dossier
being prepared for Mugabe, in which they will argue that council and
councillors have made a number of reports to the police against the Minister
of Local government, but none has been investigated.
It could not be established if this prompted Chombo to give back the piece
of land.
According to a letter written by the secretary for local government recently
to town clerk Tendai Mahachi, Chombo is being moved away for “security”
reasons as the “stand falls within the security zone of the Presidential
residence.”
“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,” reads the
letter to Mahachi signed by R.A Shawatu.
Chairman of the investigation team, Dumba however, said he suspected that
Chombo was feeling the heat and had found a way of returning the piece of
land before he is nailed.
“It’s obviously a way of saying I am surrendering the piece of land in
question. There are so many houses around the area and I am surprised that
only Stand 61 in Helensvale is a security threat. What is even puzzling is
that a letter to take land from Chombo is being written by a very junior
officer. I think Chombo must have been advised by someone to quit ownership
of the land before it is too late,” said Dumba.
Efforts to get a comment from Chombo were fruitless as his mobile phone went
unanswered. Chombo fired two of the councillors who carried out the probe.