…as they name street after Chadzamira, offers Mnangagwa a stand
…while Chiredzi Town Council bails him out through devolution funds in the constructions of roads, water trunklines
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Shineplus Housing Development Trust, which acquired large tracts of land in Chiredzi in 2012 recently commissioned a 3.5 kilometer tarred road after Chiredzi Town Council intervened with its 2023 devolution funds to help in the completion of the road as well as water trunkline, 11 years after the developer claimed was financially capable of developing more than 1000 stands, which the Ministry of Local investigation team in 2016 claimed the local authority could have been duped the land’s intrinsic value, TellZim News can report.
Shineplus, which is still cashing in on some civil servants who benefitted from its scheme through SSB deductions, recently invited Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira to commission the 3.5 kilometer road.
One of the roads was named after Chadzamira while stand number 9459 measuring 1058m2 was given to President Emmerson Mnangagwa which is believed to be a way to sanitize the alleged corruption involving the development of the area.
in his speech at the official commissioning of the road and Shineplus Park Residential Estate last week, Chadzamira said he was happy that a street was named after him and said USD$1.5 million was used for the road
“It is my singular honor and privilege to grace the commissioning of the 3.5 km Shineplus roads constructed to the tune of US$1, 788, 931 .81 Million as well as naming of streets of Shineplus low density suburb. One of the roads have been named after me, I’m humbly grateful and would like to thank Chiredzi Town Council for bestowing such an honor,”
“It shows that we have a cordial working relationship, a necessary ingredient for vision 2030 attainment,” said Chadzamira.
He also said Shineplus joined hands with the local authority to resurface 3.5-kilometer road as well as grade 17 kilometers of gravel roads under Public Private Partnership (PPP) although it was Shineplus’ prerogative role to do so.
“It is pleasing to note that Chiredzi Town Council in partnership with Shineplus Housing Development Trust have constructed 3.5 km surfaced roads and 17 km of gravel roads under devolution.
“This indeed is in fulfilment of the National Development strategy one (NDS1) pillars of infrastructure and utilities as well as housing delivery under the devolution agenda which is accelerating the attainment of vision 2030
“I also understand that CTC partnered with Shineplus as a public private partnership (ppp) in 2012 and produced 560 low density stands and 880 medium density stands including servicing of roads, water and the title survey,” he added.
Shineplus Operations Director for Tonderai Nzuwa, said they paid the intrinsic value of the land and went into a partnership with the local authority in the construction of roads as well as water trunklines which is in opposition with the Ministry’s findings in 2016.
“We applied for land to Chiredzi Town Council and our project proposal was accepted on condition of taking membership from council waiting list. Chiredzi Town Council allocated us virgin land in 2012, which is Phase 1. The local authority had no capacity to develop virgin land and there was no base map for the area. We provided funds through our strategic business partners and partnered the local authority to plan. We created 560 stands and fully paid the intrinsic value of the land to the local authority as per agreement of sale.
“We serviced the 17 km road network to gravel level and 20 km of water reticulation connected to the council main trunk, in phase 1. We also did title survey of the whole area. As we celebrate the completion of phase 1, lets all be reminded that phase 2 is still under development, and we promise that very soon we will come to celebrate the completion of phase 2.
“We also managed to tar a 3.5km road from Tnganda Road to Chiredzi Triangle highway. The 3-kilometer road links Shineplus Park Estate Phase 1 and 2 and Chiredzi Drive to the main city,” Said Nzuwa.
On the contrary, Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson, Alderman Gibson Hwende gave a different version of Nzuwa’s sentiments and said part of the 2023 Devolution funds was channeled towards developing Shineplus Park Residential Estate’s part of water trunkline as well as the roads.
“Apart from the housing delivery, Chiredzi Town Council also embarked on a number of devolution projects since 2019, which we kindly request you our Guest of Honor to extend our gratitude to President Mnangagwa for allocating a total of ZWL $1 Billion for 2023 under devolution funds to Chiredzi town council and so far a total disbursement of ZWL$ 50 million has been disbursed which we used to construct 1.4 km water trunk line in Shineplus suburb towards Mai Watson Nyabadza area,” Said Hwende.
Meanwhile, the Chiredzi Investigation Report (March-April 2016) popularly known as the ‘Nhamo Commission Report’ which was ordered by Minister of Local Government, Saviour Kasukuwere shockingly revealed that Shineplus Housing Development Trust did not handover all the commonage stands from the project and went on to sell the entire commercial, institutional and Public Utility stands and a balance of seven residential stands out of the 63 commonage stands.
“The investigation confirmed that although the agreement signed between two parties on the 9th of February 2012 was for 560 stands, the developed layout had 629 residential stands, five institutional stands (1 Primary school, 2 churches, 2 creches) and eight commercial stands. It should be noted that the project was not tendered from the onset which limited Council’s power in the whole deal. The land was never valued hence its intrinsic value charged could have been grossly understated,” reads part of the report.
“Pursuant to the above, Chiredzi Town Council remitted 63 low-density residential stands ranging from 4301-4363 being 10% commonage to the Ministry. Of the 63 stands, 49 have since been allocated by the Ministry through the state land Management Section leaving a balance of 15 stands to be allocated. Nonetheless, the entire Commercial, institutional and Public Utility stands and a balance of seven residential were sold by Shineplus outside the agreement and council did not derive any direct benefit from the said stands,” read the report.
