Mutare residents have responded with fury to reports suggesting that the Ministry of Local Government allocated residential land to senior government officials without considering the local authority’s house waiting list.
In an objection letter, one of the concerned residents, Rodney Kunenungo wrote:
Several applicants have applied for the same pieces of land in (some areas) and council turned them down, saying the land was not suitable for development…
We question the council’s change of mindset, thus making the stands developable and reserving the same for the town clerk.
United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) director Sebastian Bakare condemned the timing and preference of allocating the stands. He said:
Housing is a basic right provided for in the Constitution and must be accorded to everyone regardless of political affiliation and occupation.
A document that was shared by award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono on Wednesday indicated that more than 20 senior civil servants, judges and security officials, were granted “special favours” by the Ministry to acquire residential land in Mutare.
Mutare City Council spokesperson Spren Mutiwi confirmed that council had resolved to allocate stands to government departments, its employees and strategic partners.
More: Zim Morning Post