The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Municipal Reporter
UMGUZA residents last Tuesday staged a demonstration outside the Rural District Council’s offices in Bulawayo over a decision by councillors to reverse a Government instituted suspension on the chief executive officer, Mr Collen Moyo.
This comes as more alleged victims of the RDC’s corruption scam have emerged with accusations ranging from officials demanding bribes to the illegal repossession of agri-plots. Mr Moyo was suspended last month over corruption allegations, with indications that more officials from the authority could face the wrath of the law.
The RDC two weeks ago convened their own disciplinary hearing where they resolved to overturn the Government instituted suspension finding the CEO not guilty, thereby agreeing that he resumes his duties.
This has however, been met by opposition from residents and villagers who have accused councillors of undermining the authority of Government and trying to protect Mr Moyo. Some of the residents resorted to staging a peaceful demonstration outside the council’s offices in the Central Business District of Bulawayo.
Some of those interviewed blasted the local authority saying the fact that councillors had moved a motion to overturn the Government decision showed that they were operating as a cartel with the “sole purpose of milking council resources”.
One of the affected residents- Mr Blessing Makamu- claimed a senior official had demanded a US$2 000 bribe for him to reverse a decision to repossess an agro-plot in Montgomery.
“I got a plot in Montgomery last year and managed to make a down payment of US$1 000. I then started doing construction work, even built a toilet and fenced the property. I was however, shocked when they informed me that they were repossessing the plot, I was even told that my development permit had since expired.
“I then approached (name withheld) over the matter, during this meeting I recorded him and I even showed this recording to the Ministerial investigating team when they came to investigate. What shocked me is that how does a development permit expire when I had already started doing construction work,” said Mr Makamu.
He said their plea was for the Government to move in and weed out all the corruption within the RDC. Mr Mukamu also claimed the council’s engineering department was also riddled with corruption.
Mr Taurai Pangira, who is a representative of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches said they were handling a complaint from Spirit Filled Ministries International where the RDC had also unceremoniously repossessed their stand and were now allegedly demanding a US$1 500 down payment for councillors to meet and rescind the decision.
“This church actually wants to build a 10 000-seater conference centre and a lodge, which will in itself bring development to the district but they went on to repossess the stands. We have been engaging them on this matter and on Thursday I was surprised when I got a call from the administrator who told me that the CEO said in order for councillors to sit down and rescind this decision, we had to pay US$1 500,” said Mr Pangira.
Another resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said when the RDC’s officials repossessed her stand, she reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, which forced the council officials to move in and try to prevent the repossession order.
“When they realised that I had reported the issue to Zacc they called me to their offices claiming they had made a mistake and wanted to reverse the order but it was a little too late, as it is I am still awaiting my papers from them,” said the resident.
The investigation, which led to Mr Moyo’s suspension 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.
