[four_fifth_last]THE Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has taken Bulawayo mayor Martin Moyo to task over council’s decision to sell land to his deputy Gift Banda in what it says were unclear circumstances.[/four_fifth_last]
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
Banda (MDC-T) was in May granted permission by council to buy 3,5 hectares of land valued at $130 000 for construction of residential flats at Ascot Race Course.
AAG’s Matabeleland chapter said it was not happy with the deal and gave Moyo 72 hours to respond to allegations that it was tainted with corruption.
In a one-paged petition, the AAG said it was concerned about allegations of corruption levelled against councilors and management.
“There are two issues of note which we, as an organisation, are demanding answers (and these are), firstly, under the rent-a-roof programme councillor Gift Banda, who is also the deputy mayor, was awarded 1 000 stands. Please enlighten us on how the award was carried out,” reads part of the petition.
“Secondly, there have been numerous reports on the awarding of property located in Ascot to the same councillor Gift Banda.
“Please advise us on the procedure through, which this award was given, granted that there were no advertisements done of the same in the Press”.
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According to the Bulawayo City Council’s master plan, the land allocated to Banda was for residential buildings (flats or attached dwellings). There were no planning objections to the deputy mayor’s proposals.
“As responsible citizens and the voice of the voiceless, it is our mandate to demand answers from elected and appointed public officials and are demanding a response within 72 hours to the above-stated issues,” AAG said.
Moyo was recently petitioned by the same group following alleged widespread tender irregularities involving his council.
The group was irked by reports that contracts with a combined value of about $8,7 million were retendered or extended after winning companies either disappeared or failed to complete projects.
It was alleged that defaulting companies were working in cahoots with senior council officials who played both tender adjudication and supervisory roles, creating fertile ground for manipulation in the bidding process. Both Moyo and Banda could not be reached for comment yesterday.
