NSSA finds ‘missing’ land

09 Jul, 2017 - 00:07 0 Views
NSSA finds ‘missing’ land

The Sunday Mail

THE National Social Security Authority says it has identified over 500 hectares purchased for over US$3 million in 2003 but had been reported as “missing” to the Auditor-General.

According to Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri’s latest report, the authority failed to account for 529ha in Chegutu which had been “written off”.

The Sunday Mail understands that no developments have been made on the land, which was earmarked for low-cost housing projects at the time of purchase.

Nssa board chairperson Mr Robin Vela last week told this publication they had now identified the land, which was purchased at US$3,4 million 14 years ago.

He said the land was reported as “disappeared” because of a “write down of land whose ownership records could not be confirmed by the Chegutu Town Council at the time of the authority’s 2016 annual financial audit”.

Mr Vela said, “NSSA can confirm that, following due processes and professional legal advice, the authority bought 529 hectares of land known as Hintonville Farm in 2003.

“It is unfortunate that at the time the 2016 annual financial audit was concluded, the Chegutu Town Council could not find the record of this purchase, prompting the recommendation to write down the land in NSSA’s balance sheet.

“It is worth noting that NSSA management was already in the process of investigating the existence and ownership of this land with the Chegutu Town Council well before the audit had started and can confirm, following further investigations involving the relevant transacting parties at the time, that the land’s existence has been identified and confirmed, and that the authority is comfortable that its title in respect of the land will be restored in due course.”

Mr Vela said he and NSSA executives travelled to Chegutu a fortnight ago to conclude the matter.

“We are comfortable that the land will be duly restored to Nssa with appropriate legal title given in the fullness of time,” said Mr Vela.

Asked why the land was not on NSSA’s books last year when it was bought 14 years ago, Mr Vela said “standard accounting conventions frown upon recording land for which one does not have title deeds”.

Chegutu town clerk Mr Alex Mandigo could not be reached for comment as he was said to be out of office and his mobile phone unreachable.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, “There was no evidence of a written handover takeover between new executives and their predecessors. Handover takeover should have been documented and agreed between the concerned officers.

“As an example, land in Chegutu, Hintonville Extension valued at US$3 419 000 was written off in the year ended December 31, 2016 as the authority could not locate the land.”

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