TWO leaders of Simon Mazorodze Housing Co-operative in Harare have been implicated in a land scam after they allegedly converted land reserved for construction of schools and a clinic into residential stands, which they sold to unsuspecting members.
The cooperative's treasurer Patience Magaya and fellow committee member Tinotenda Mavhurudza were on Monday granted US$50 bail each by magistrate Patricia Kamwanda. The matter was remanded to October 23.
As part of their bail conditions, the duo was ordered to continue residing at the given addresses and report once a week at ZRP Commercial Crimes Unit until finalisation of the matter.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi told the court that sometime in 2000, the government acquired the remainder of Nyarungu Farm under the land reform programme solely for residential and commercial stands.
Six years later, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in terms of Section 43 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 29:12 approved the subdivision of Stand 3970 Stoneridge Township plan number HOPU13-01/2 for the benefit of several housing co-operatives, including Simon Muzenda Housing Cooperative.
After receiving its share of the land, the Simon Mazorodze Housing Co-operative was ordered to reserve a specific piece of land for the development of schools and a clinic, among other social amenities.
In 2019, the duo allegedly parcelled out residential stands to home seekers for a fee, and the matter only came to light after an aggrieved member blew the whistle, leading to the accused's arrest
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