Three groups representing Mutare residents have crafted a petition to the City Council, Parliament and the Ministry of Local Government calling for the reversal of a deal that saw Zanu (PF) stalwart and prominent businessman Esau Mupfumi taking over Meikles Park.
The government, through Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, last week offered the land to Mupfumi’s company Stallvic Enterprises on a four year lease with option to buy at an annual rent of $68,100.
David Mwedzi, a representative of the three groups, said they were objecting to the deal as it had not been handled transparently, through the tender process. “We are going to institute legal action and stage massive demonstrations if this deal is not reversed,” he said.
Chombo recently directed the Mayor, Tatenda Nhamarare, to inform residents that Meikles Park in the central business district was no longer council property. Nhamarare said there was nothing the council could do to stop the deal as it was already concluded.
He said government had transferred 100 hectares of land in Fern Valley to council in exchange for Meikles Park. “We cannot oppose this directive. It’s the government that has done this,” he said. The Zimbabwean
