Chitungwiza Municipality has been implicated in a massive corruption case which has prejudiced the local authority of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The graft which was unearthed by an internal audit, includes the illegal selling of land by individual Councillors to unsuspecting home seekers.
Newsday reports of an data trail revealing that several councillors and workers usurped the role of the planning department by identifying undeveloped stands and submitting land for verification and allocation to the department of housing.
The culprits would then allocate the stands to themselves and other connected beneficiaries, thereby enriching themselves while prejudicing council of the much-needed revenue.
“Councillors are policymakers and identification of undeveloped stands and open spaces should remain the duty of the planning department,” the report said.
One councillor (name withheld) was implicated in the sale of more than 40 stands. Several other councillors were also implicated in the scam.
The report said site plans were being drawn by outsiders for use by council, a development that had worsened the illegal allocation of stands.
Chitungwiza mayor, Phillip Mutoti yesterday referred all questions to the town clerk, George Makunde.
Makunde was at first evasive when asked to comment by NewsDay and demanded to know who had leaked the report.
“Who gave you that report? Where are you getting those things?” he queried.
But when pressed further, Makunde said the matter was being looked into and promised to issue a statement when investigations were complete.
“It is a matter that is still being investigated, but all I can say is that we have received reports from residents complaining that certain Councillors are taking over repossessed stands and selling them or building their houses on them.”
Chitungwiza municipality is not new to corruption in 2010 the town’s former MDC-T mayor, Israel Marange, was arrested and convicted for corruption.
That was after the MDC-T had fired more than 10 of its Councillors on similar allegations.