KWEKWE City Council has finally given in to a 2008 directive by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo ordering them to sell a council-owned house to former executive mayor Stanford Bonyongwa as part of his exit package. REPORT BY BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER
Council resolved during a December 4 special council meeting to sell the $92 000 property to Bonyongwa at half price to end a three-year wrangle over the ex-mayor’s perks.
“Council resolves that house number 4 Jason Moyo Avenue, Newtown, be offered to former executive mayor Alderman Stanford Bonyongwa at 50% ($46 431) of its value $92 862 as per the ministerial directive,” reads the resolution.
Since 2008, Bonyongwa has refused to vacate the mayoral mansion unless he was allowed to purchase the property.
Mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa said council was arm-twisted to sell the house to Bonyongwa following a meeting held in Harare towards the end of last year. The meeting was attended by Tobaiwa, town clerk Emmanuel Musara, Local Government secretary Killian Mupingo and Bonyongwa.
“The ministry expressed concern that council had not complied with a ministerial directive to sell the house to Bonyongwa as part of his exit package and they insisted that we comply,” Tobaiwa said.
But councillor Weston Masiya said council was eager to see the former executive mayor leave the mansion which he had occupied for the past three years with all expenses being met by ratepayers.
“We had placed the matter of his eviction in the hands of council lawyers, but we hope with this new deal he will just leave the mansion and save us a legal battle,” Masiya said.
