By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe Mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga has assured residents that the City of Kwekwe allocates residential stands strictly according to the official housing waiting list, dismissing allegations that the process is influenced by political patronage.
Zinhanga made the remarks during a full council meeting while responding to concerns raised by Ward 7 Councillor Kudakwashe Gwamuri, who questioned whether recent stand allocations were being done on the basis of political affiliation.
Addressing councillors, the mayor said council policy on land allocation had not changed and remained clear on the procedures to be followed.
“Stands are allocated according to the waiting list if they are residential stands,” Zinhanga said. “There is no selective application of stands based on political affiliation, church or religion. There is nothing like that.”
He explained that residential land allocation follows an established queue system managed by council, adding that deviations from the policy were not permitted.
On the allocation of commercial stands, Zinhanga said the process differed from residential allocations and involved an application-based system.
“An individual makes an application and the application is assessed by management before it is sent to full council for adjudication,” he said. “We want to see capacity — whether one has the ability to develop the land or intends to buy it for speculative purposes.”
The mayor also cautioned residents against believing claims made outside official council processes, noting that political statements made in public spaces did not necessarily reflect council policy.
“As council, we have a policy that we all know, and that policy has not changed,” he said.
The issue of land allocation has remained a sensitive topic in Kwekwe, with residents frequently raising concerns over transparency and fairness in the distribution of residential and commercial stands.
