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Gift Banda

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has told Government that its councillors, including deputy mayor Gift Banda were clean, dismissing allegations that they flouted tender procedures and illegally acquired stands.

A response prepared by Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube following an audit conducted by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing said everything at the municipality was done above board.

The response follows the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde Saviour Kasukuwere’s decision to suspended five councillors – Banda (ward 5) , Charles Moyo (Ward 9), Mzama Dube (Ward 25), Reuben Matengu (Ward 21) and James Sithole (Ward 7) over claims that council was not following tender procedures.

The ministry has however lifted the suspension of three councillors – Mzama Dube, Moyo and Sithole. Clr’s Banda and Matengu are expected to appear before a tribunal.

In his response, Mr Dube said the ministry’s auditors could not pin down some of the councillors as they started their investigations before council had concluded any land deals.

“Councillor James Sithole and Charles Moyo were allocated designated town houses by a council resolution. However, [it] was not taken to its finality because the investigating team came and the process was stopped. The two councillors were not given any offer letters,” reads the Town’s Clerk’s response.

The report also exonerates Clr Banda of any wrong doing stating that he did not have to go through tender to acquire the land. “However, the following should be noted regarding the allocation of an Ascot stand to councillor Gift Banda. An application was received from councillor Gift Banda for a portion of land and was circulated and submitted to the town’s lands and planning committee and subsequently to council,” said Mr Dube.

“In terms of the Bulawayo operative master plan the piece of land is zoned as residential buildings (flats or attached dwellings). The land is not designated town house stands and hence the tender procedure falls away.”

The report states that Clr Banda even advertised in the public media after council offered him land in Ascot and there was no objection. Mr Dube also defended the council’s tender processes particularly the Terracotta project to build a mall at Egodini bus terminus.

He said council does not have to adhere to the Joint Venture Act as the project was not a joint venture, but the contractors were going to lease land from council.

— @nqotshili