The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Municipal Reporter
THE Government has suspended Umguza Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Collen Moyo over corruption allegations, with indications that more officials from the authority could face the wrath of the law.
In the past two months, there have been a number of complaints levelled against Umguza RDC officials with people alleging that the officials were constantly demanding bribes so as to be considered in land allocation.
In February, an official from the RDC- Mr Mbongeni Maphosa, who works in the engineering department- was assaulted by an irate resident-right in his office in full view of colleagues and subordinates, over alleged corruption over the repossession and re-allocation of stands.
Confirming the suspension of Mr Moyo, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde July Moyo said a Ministerial investigation team had unraveled a number of irregularities which had warranted the suspension.
“There was an investigation team that went to Umguza and the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Marian Chombo went to present the actual report, together with officials from the Ministry.
“The suspension is so that further investigations can be instituted before we make a final resolution on the matter, but we are not leaving any stone unturned so as to weed out corruption,” said Minister Moyo.
According to sources at the RDC, the investigation was mainly focused on the allocation and repossession of Agri-plots in Montgomery with people reportedly paying up to US$1 000 as bribes so as to get the plots. The plots are also sold in foreign currency by the council.
“The corruption at the RDC has reached alarming levels, particularly in the allocation and repossession of Montgomery agri-plots. People were paying up to US$1 000 to council officials’ agents in bribes.
“Now they were clandestinely repossessing plots and re-allocating land to new beneficiaries for more bribes. Council is also faced with a litany of suits from disgruntled residents who were swindled of their stands. In some instances, officers fraudulently represented that owners had signed for repossession letters when they did not,” said the source.
This is not the first time Mr Moyo has been found on the wrong side of the law. In 2012 he was arrested for allegedly unlawfully facilitated the release of funds to Notify Enterprises before it was contracted to carry out the rehabilitation of a road by raising false claims certifying that work had been done.
When the project was put to tender and Mr Moyo realised he was going to be exposed, he allegedly abused his power to cause the awarding of the tender to Notify Enterprises in retrospect.
The contractor was allegedly paid a total of $1 455 650, but no bridge was constructed. However, the case was later dropped before plea.
