GURUVE, Zimbabwe– A devastating fire that ravaged the planning office of the Guruve Rural District Council (RDC) last Thursday has triggered a full-scale investigation, with authorities now treating the incident as a suspected arson attack The suspicion intensified after remnants of explosives were reportedly discovered among the debris This incident occurs against a backdrop of long-standing allegations of corruption and maladministration within the council, raising serious questions about potential motives The inferno, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, completely destroyed the crucial planning department
While the immediate cause of the fire was initially unclear, the subsequent discovery of explosive materials points to a deliberate act Local media outlet Hurumende has published images of the gutted offices, further highlighting the extent of the damage to this vital administrative hub The Guruve Rural District Council, like other RDCs in Zimbabwe, is tasked with the socio-economic development and welfare of its largely rural populace, as outlined in the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13] The planning office is particularly critical, as it houses essential documents related to land use, zoning, infrastructure development projects (such as roads, water, and sanitation), and various permits and licenses
The destruction of these records could significantly impede administrative processes, disrupt ongoing development initiatives, and complicate property dealings within the Guruve district Council Leadership and Past Allegations:
The leadership of the Guruve RDC comprises elected councillors who represent the district’s 24 administrative wards, and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who serves as the chief accounting officer Guruve district is divided into two constituencies: Guruve-North and Guruve-South The council has faced a history of scrutiny regarding its operations
In a significant development, theGuruve Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Tinos Marisa, was suspended in June 2024over a series of allegations, including maladministration and abuse of office Prior to this, in May 2021, Marisa had been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of corruptly allocating stands between 2016 and 2020 Reports from 2018 also detail allegations of corruption within the Guruve RDC, with residents raising concerns about the unilateral subdivision of stands and the parcelling out of public land for private gain, with the then CEO, Mr Marisa, and the council chairperson, Mr
Kaswaurere, implicated in these activities More recently, in July 2024, the chairperson of the Guruve Residents and Ratepayers Association, Latios Karembera, was also implicated in alleged land grab and illegal sales While the current chairperson of the Guruve Rural District Council is not readily available in recent public records, the frequent leadership changes and persistent allegations of corruption highlight a turbulent administrative environment within the council The timing and nature of the fire, particularly with the discovery of explosives, inevitably lead to suspicions of an attempt to destroy incriminating evidence or disrupt investigations related to these past and ongoing issues
Investigations are currently underway to identify the perpetrators and their motives behind what appears to be a deliberate and targeted attack on a key local government institution The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of local governance structures to sabotage, especially where valuable records and sensitive information, potentially linked to corrupt practices, are concerned Source: Gambakwe
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Source: Gambakwe
