HARARE - At least $5 million paid by home seekers to service residential stands at Nyatsime has mysteriously vanished from Chitungwiza City Council coffers, leaving the 1 500 victims fuming.

Acting Harare Metropolitan governor Alfred Tome told angry members of Nyatsime Housing Development Association at Chitungwiza head office on Saturday that the $5 million that the beneficiaries had paid for the stands had gone missing.

There is only $40 000 left in the MDC-run municipality’s account from the $5 million.

Tome speculates the funds could have been abused by former town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa, currently on trial for abusing council funds.

“Our investigations have shown that the money you topped up on your stands at the start of the multi-currency regime in 2009 was abused,” Tome said.

“This probably took place before the coming of the new management at council. There is just about $40 000 left but we are in the process of correcting the anomaly.”

The acting governor, who is also the provincial administrator for Harare, also informed the Chitungwiza home seekers that council sold them stands on land belonging to Goromonzi Rural District Council.

“I can tell you that as government we were not aware that there were stands at Nyatsime and when we got to know, we realised the land did not belong to Chitungwiza,” Tome said.

“We have however, started the process of transferring the land ownership to the relevant ministry so servicing of the stands can commence.

“We have found partners from Turkey who are keen to help with the development of the roads and sewer system.

“I am sure we will be able to correct the mess but this also depends on the way we vote next year. If we vote wisely, it will be easier for us to see it through,” said Tome, a well-known Zanu PF supporter.

The stands were sold in July 2007. - Mugove Tafirenyika