Kasukuwere suspends Chitungwiza Councillors for stealing State land, Kudzanai Chipanga also involved

Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday suspended all the 25 Chitungwiza councillors, including mayor Phillip Mutoti, accusing them of stealing State land and sharing it among themselves, and prejudicing the local authority of over $7 million in the process. He appointed a three-member caretaker council to run the town’s affairs.

The caretaker committee comprises of Civil Protection Unit director Madzudzo Pawadyira, Chitungwiza district administrator Zivai Chisango and a former Zanu PF councillor only identified as Mabhiza. An internal audit report which led to the suspensions shows that all councillors benefited from the alleged illegal land sales with one Charamba Mlambo said to have sold over 46 stands and one Lameck Chibvongodze also illegally selling 32 stands.

According to the report, Chitungwiza mayor Phillip Mutoti allegedly sold land worth more $100 000 while Zanu PF’s Kudzanai Chipanga is said to have been given an offer letter for a 2 000-square metre stand worth $16 710 by Chibvongodze although there were no records to prove that Chipanga paid for the land.