Bulawayo City Council last Thursday disconnected water from the Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial headquarters over an unpaid debt of about $14 000.
Although Zanu PF politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, who is the political head of the party in the Bulawayo province, yesterday denied that Davies Hall had been disconnected, party insiders said officials had made an illegal reconnection.
The issue of the disconnection of water was reportedly discussed at the party’s provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting at Davies Hall on Sunday.
“In the PCC meeting on Sunday, the treasury was tasked to raise at least $6 000 to be paid to council for the water to be restored at the offices. “The meeting was held when there was no water,” said a party insider.
The revelations came days after the Bulawayo High Court
ordered Zanu PF to pay more than $14 000 it owes council in rent and rates arrears or risk having its property attached.
But Ndlovu yesterday dismissed claims that water had been disconnected at Davies Hall.
“An agreement was reached between the party and council to pay.
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“I know that tranches of $5 000 and $6 000 were paid to council. What you have must be mistaken information, we support council by paying rates,” he said.
However, sources within the party maintained that the water was disconnected on Thursday.
“They must have made an illegal reconnection because the water was disconnected on Thursday,” the source said.
“If the money was paid, then why was the matter discussed during the PCC meeting on Sunday?” Bulawayo mayor Thaba Moyo yesterday said he was unaware that Zanu PF had made an illegal reconnection.
“I will have to find out from the financial director (Kempton Ndimande) but if the allegations are true, what they are doing is illegal,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the mayor later were fruitless, but impeccable council sources confirmed that Davies Hall was disconnected.
“It is true that Davies Hall was disconnected, but a meter reader was sent to Davies Hall today (yesterday) to check and discovered that they have running water despite the fact that they have not paid anything to council,” said a council source.
“It means they made an illegal reconnection and council will soon take necessary steps to block the water and fine them.”
In a summary judgment read in a motion court on Thursday morning, Justice Lawrence Kamocha ordered Zanu PF to honour its $14 048, 97 arrears to BCC for rent and rates from June 2009 to February 2011.
