Top Zanu PF officials were some of the alleged beneficiaries of opaque land deals in Manicaland’s Makoni district that resulted in the suspension of some top council officials, it has been revealed.
Former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, who is the Zanu PF treasurer has been protesting the suspension of two top Makoni rural District Council (RDC) officials for frustrating a government land audit in the district.
The suspended Makoni RDC chairperson David Guy Mutasa and chief executive officer Edward Pise are Chinamasa’s known allies.
Pise had saved the local municipality for more than 30 years.
The two were suspended by former Local Government minister Winston Chitando.
Chitando had dispatched an investigation team to look into land corruption deals in Nyazura, but the team allegedly faced resistance from the duo, resulting in their suspension.
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There are allegations the duo was involved in land theft in connivance with Zanu PF top officials.
Chinamasa recently wrote to the Local Government minister Daniel Garwe protesting the suspension of his allies.
Sources said Garwe approved the suspension of the Makoni RDC officials, pending further investigations.
Chinamasa’s letter of complaint raised eyebrows after it emerged that he allegedly was a beneficiary of opaque land deals in Makoni.
Council officials in Makoni said a named Zanu PF politburo member benefited immensely from the duo's corruption.
“He has a lot of land which he was given by the Makoni RDC,” the sources said.
“In Headlands he has got land, he is building lodges.
“He acquired those assets when he was a minister in that short period, but questions are being raised as to how he acquired those properties.”
Chinamasa, who is the current Zanu PF treasurer, was not answering calls yesterday when a comment was being sought from him on why he was fighting in the suspended council officials’ corner.
Local Government minister Daniel Garwe was also not reachable.
Chitando was shunted back to the Mines ministry in a mini-Cabinet reshuffle.
In his letter, Chinamasa said Chitando’s suspension of the officials defied logic.
“Your predecessor Honorable Winstone Chitando took a decision, which l strongly feel was unjustified and defies any logic unless there is something besides, which has not been disclosed to me,” reads his letter addressed to Garwe dated May 7.
“Chitando suspended Alderman Mutasa and Edward Pise for allegedly handling a Nyazura farm, which has been developed and settled as urban development and cannot be reversed or undone.”
He added: “I thus feel strongly that the suspensions of Alderman Mutasa and Pise are not only unwarranted, but cast aspersions on their characters and reputation, something that could have been avoided through consultations.
“I plead with the honourable minister to look into the matter dispassionately and do what is right by lifting the suspensions.”