‘CIO agent’ wreaks havoc in Mberengwa

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A MAN from Mberenga believed to be a Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) is allegedly going around the district grabbing other people’s land — in what villagers branded as abuse of power.

A MAN from Mberenga believed to be a Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) is allegedly going around the district grabbing other people’s land — in what villagers branded as abuse of power.

MAMELO NKOMO OWN CORRESPONDENT

Stanley Masumba of Mberengwa, under village head Phoging Gumbo, Ward 2, is accused of giving fellow villagers a torrid time, grabbing their land without the approval of the district council.

Recently, Masumba allegedly grabbed land belonging to one villager, Collen Sithole and converted it into his own use.

Sithole said Masumba forcibly took his three-hectare plot and despite reporting the case to local authorities, nothing was done as the latter is feared.

“He took my land and I tried to reason with him, but failed,” Sithole said.

“I reported the case to village head Gumbo, as well as the Mberengwa Rural District Council, but nothing happened.”

Sithole told Southern Eye that he leased his plot from government under the 99-year lease agreement.

The village head, Gumbo, confirmed the incident, but ruled out that they had failed to deal with the case.

“Yes we have such a case,” he said.

“Masumba took land that belongs to Sithole, but then Sithole failed to follow proper procedures. He approached other people from other villages instead of us.”

Contacted for comment, Masumba denied the allegations and accused this publication of peddling falsehoods.

“I don’t know what you are talking about because I didn’t take anybody’s land,” he said.

“Please, for more details contact the district administrator.”

Efforts to get a comment from the district administrator were in vain yesterday