Hope for Sakubva squatters
SQUATTER settlements in Sakubva, Mutare, can be regularised if the area’s political leadership engages Government, a senior council official has said,
Mutare Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa made the remarks on Saturday while presiding over the official opening of Sakubva River bridge, which was constructed with support from Dangamvura-Chikanga Member of Parliament Mr Esau Mupfumi.
According to Mr Maligwa, affected residents could apprise their legislator, Cde Mupfumi, of their plight.
“We have heard concerns of Mutare residents, particularly those in Mahalaphe. As part of Mutare City Council, I want to advise you to tell your honourable MP all your grievances concerning your housing cooperative.”
Mr Maligwa indicated that council and Cde Mupfumi had once engaged over the squatters and it was agreed at the time that the area belonged to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
He said people were currently living in an industrial area, which was against council by-laws.
“You all know that our town planning laws do not allow us to let people live in an industrial area because it is dangerous.
“But a place can be changed from industrial to residential,” he said.
He added that if the residents’ grievances were brought to his office, he would take them to full council and also recommend them to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo.
Meanwhile, some members of MDC-T in Mutare seem to have run out of ideas amid reports that they have been pestering ZANU-PF legislators for partnerships in various developmental projects in their respective constituencies, writes Nyore Madzianike.
The revelation comes in the wake of reports that Mutare Central legislator Mr Innocent Gonese made numerous calls to Dangamvura-Chikanga MP Cde Mupfumi to partner him in the construction of a footbridge connecting the two constituencies.
Mr Gonese made the calls despite Cde Mupfumi having already completed construction of the $14 000 footbridge that links Chikanga and Sakubva.
The footbridge was officially opened on Saturday.
Cde Mupfumi confirmed that Mr Gonese approached him “begging” to be included in the project.
Cde Mupfumi said he turned down Mr Gonese’s plea.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Gonese were fruitless, as his mobile phone was unreachable, but documents in The Herald’s possession show that there was communication between Cde Mupfumi and Mr Gonese.
The documents also indicate that $7 400 was transferred into Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency development fund account from Mutare Central CDF fund.