News / Local
Bulawayo to spash $120 000 on mayoral house
01 Feb 2017 at 09:45hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council has revived more than a decade old idea of constructing a mayoral house and funds will be set aside during the 2018 city budget, Bulawayo24.com can reveal.
The current mayor, Martin Moyo is using his private house.
In 1997, council resolved to build the residence in Selbourne Park and Cabinet blessed the idea.
However, council then decided to shelve the project citing lack of funds.
Now the idea is being resuscitated but shelved until next year.
For the meantime, council has decided to buy a house in Hillside suburb at a cost of about $120 000.
According to a council report made available to the media today (Wednesday), Acting Director of Housing and Community Services reported on January 19, that on 7 May, 1997 it was resolved to construct a mayoral residence.
"It was also reported that cabinet had approved construction of mayoral residences as a policy" reads part of the report seen by Bulawayo24.com.
"The city went on to identify a site at Selborne Park and the requisite building plans were prepared. However, the project has not taken off due to lack of funds ever since.
"This project had been held in abeyance for a long time. In view of the above mentioned, management had embarked on finding a complete house for the use by the current Mayor and any future Mayors of the City.
"However, the construction project would be budgeted for in 2018. It was expected that once the construction was complete, the bought house would remain a Council property for relevant use by Council".
The report added that a preliminary search with reputable Estate Agents had yielded some positive results.
"A house at Hillside had been identified at a cost of US$120 000. The purchase had not been budgeted for in the 2017 budget".
This development comes at a time when Gweru City Council's multi-bedroomed mayoral mansion, which has been lying idle since the departure of then mayor, Sesel Zvidzai in 2008 is said to requires at least $40 000 to fix its crumbling fittings.
Last year, the Judicial Services Commission approached council requesting to lease the building and use it as the seat for High Court sessions, but residents objected to the move, arguing council would not benefit from such a deal.
The mayoral mansion is one white elephant that Gweru has for years been urged to exploit, as the city's coffers are running dry with dwindling streams to sustain the local authority's successive budgets.
At one point, council tried to lease out the property for $3 000 per month to any interested tenants, but found no takers.
The current mayor, Martin Moyo is using his private house.
In 1997, council resolved to build the residence in Selbourne Park and Cabinet blessed the idea.
However, council then decided to shelve the project citing lack of funds.
Now the idea is being resuscitated but shelved until next year.
For the meantime, council has decided to buy a house in Hillside suburb at a cost of about $120 000.
According to a council report made available to the media today (Wednesday), Acting Director of Housing and Community Services reported on January 19, that on 7 May, 1997 it was resolved to construct a mayoral residence.
"It was also reported that cabinet had approved construction of mayoral residences as a policy" reads part of the report seen by Bulawayo24.com.
"The city went on to identify a site at Selborne Park and the requisite building plans were prepared. However, the project has not taken off due to lack of funds ever since.
"This project had been held in abeyance for a long time. In view of the above mentioned, management had embarked on finding a complete house for the use by the current Mayor and any future Mayors of the City.
"However, the construction project would be budgeted for in 2018. It was expected that once the construction was complete, the bought house would remain a Council property for relevant use by Council".
The report added that a preliminary search with reputable Estate Agents had yielded some positive results.
"A house at Hillside had been identified at a cost of US$120 000. The purchase had not been budgeted for in the 2017 budget".
This development comes at a time when Gweru City Council's multi-bedroomed mayoral mansion, which has been lying idle since the departure of then mayor, Sesel Zvidzai in 2008 is said to requires at least $40 000 to fix its crumbling fittings.
Last year, the Judicial Services Commission approached council requesting to lease the building and use it as the seat for High Court sessions, but residents objected to the move, arguing council would not benefit from such a deal.
The mayoral mansion is one white elephant that Gweru has for years been urged to exploit, as the city's coffers are running dry with dwindling streams to sustain the local authority's successive budgets.
At one point, council tried to lease out the property for $3 000 per month to any interested tenants, but found no takers.
Source - Byo24News
