A BITTER conflict over the allocation of residential stands in Harare’s upscale suburbs is at the centre of a power struggle between city councillors and the head of Human Shelter Services, Fani Machipisa, according to documents obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent.
Machipisa is reportedly facing pushback for attempting to enforce a recent directive from the Ministry of Local Government, which mandates that councillors be allocated residential stands only within the wards they represent.
However, the city fathers are pushing for allocations in affluent areas such as Borrowdale, Highlands, Greendale and Mt Pleasant, citing past practices as precedent.
A circular dated March 18, 2020, from then Local Government permanent secretary Zvinechimwe Churu, outlined that councillors without residences within their wards could be allocated a single residential stand within that ward during their lifetime, at a discounted rate of 40% off the normal land value.
The stands were to be offered on a lease-to-own basis, with payments to be completed before the councillor’s term of office ends.
According to sources, tensions flared at a recent workshop held by Harare officials in Kadoma, where Machipisa insisted on adhering to the government directive, particularly given that the council is currently under investigation by a commission of inquiry.
“Councillors from high-density areas want to be allowed to buy residential stands in leafy suburbs like Borrowdale or Mt Pleasant like what their counterparts used to do,” a source said.
“The circular is very clear that councillors will only buy stands in the wards they were elected. The councillors were not happy, and that workshop did not end well. It seems they resolved to get rid of Machipisa then.”
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Following the workshop, an attempt was made to transfer Machipisa to a newly created position as head of academic programmes at the Harare School of Excellence.
However, Machipisa resisted the move and appealed to Local Government minister Daniel Garwe, who subsequently reversed the transfer.
It is understood that while some Zanu PF councillors initially supported the transfer, they later withdrew their backing to avoid contravening the government’s directive.
“The councillors seem to brazenly want to break the rules regardless of the consequences,” the source said. “The transfer of Machipisa was improper when there is a commission of inquiry underway probing the city’s governance since 2017.
“It is clear the issue of land allocation will be topical during the hearings and why the councillors wanted to remove the official in the midst of a probe is a mystery.”
