By A Correspondent- Councillor Albert Chirau, Ward 11 Councillor in Gweru has come under fire after he reportedly parcelled out stands to his children aged 5 and 13.
Chirau has reportedly confirmed he bought stands number 6835 Senga Infill and 6841 Senga for his two children and he has said he is not the one who bought the stands but his children and went on to name other people he sid had done the same:
My children did buy those stands. If the law does not allow juveniles to purchase stands the council must not have accepted the money. It is not my fault, it is the fault of the people who receipted the money. I am not the only one who did so.
For instance, one of the stands I bought for my children is 6835 in Senga and number 6832 was bought by (former Housing Director) Mrs Unity Jaji’s child who is also underage, (former Town Clerk) Daniel Matawu also gave stands to his children. So it is not only me.
According to Urban Councills Procedures, council advertises stands, people on the housing waiting list are given first priority and it is not possible to have under-aged children on the waiting list. This makes the purchase of the stands by councillors and managers for their children unprocedural.
The government has in response to this written to Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe and accused him of condoning corruption by allowing councillors to acquire land at paltry prices prejudicing council of potential revenue.-statemedia