News / Local
'Hostile lynch mob' bays for Bulawayo Mayor's blood
04 May 2016 at 21:18hrs | Views
Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo has said a "hostile lynch mob bayed" for his blood over the Egodini Mall project and sale of commercial Ascot stands to his deputy, Gift Banda.
Moyo said council gave a South African firm- Teracotta the tender because it has money. However, according to a council report seen by Bulawayo24.com that placed him in danger of the "lynch mob".
"On Friday, I had the misfortune of finding myself in the midst of a hostile lynch mob baying for my blood. All that was due to misconceptions and misinformation about certain affairs of Council" said Moyo.
"Indulge me this time to give you the facts on some of those matters".
Below is Moyo's full submission :
1. Ascot Race Course. The allegation is that we sold Ascot Race Course to the Deputy Mayor.
The truth is that Ascot Race Course still stands with its fencing intact.
Ascot is an area bounded by Leopold Takawira and Old Gwanda Road, between George Avenue and UBH. There are other properties there, namely Holiday Inn, Ascot Shopping Centre and Ascot MEWS.
It is an expansive area of over 200ha. The 3.4ha that the Deputy Mayor got is in the general area of Ascot and is not Ascot Race Course. Residential and industrial stands are applied for. They are not tendered out. Commercial stands on the other hand are tendered out.
2. The Egodini Development. As was explained at that tumultuous meeting, the advert for expression of interest to develop Egodini was flighted in 2010. Three companies expressed interest to partner the City to develop Egodini. Teracotta was chosen.
Why Teracotta and why a foreign company? We were looking for some one with money. Which local company can raise $60 million? We were not looking for a contractor. We were looking for an investor.
It is not like we were not doing anything between 2010 and the signing of the contract in 2015.
The negotiations were protracted. We wanted to secure a good deal for Council. Surely, there are no timelines when it comes to negotiations.
The suggestion to reverse that investment is most dismaying. Bulawayo needs life. It's a $60 million with a potential to raise 1 000 jobs!
3. Council is not the employer. Councillors do not work for Teracotta and so do not go to them looking for a job.
Teracotta is the contractor and they will employ when they come. Should they want assistance from Council they will say so.
Moyo said council gave a South African firm- Teracotta the tender because it has money. However, according to a council report seen by Bulawayo24.com that placed him in danger of the "lynch mob".
"On Friday, I had the misfortune of finding myself in the midst of a hostile lynch mob baying for my blood. All that was due to misconceptions and misinformation about certain affairs of Council" said Moyo.
"Indulge me this time to give you the facts on some of those matters".
Below is Moyo's full submission :
1. Ascot Race Course. The allegation is that we sold Ascot Race Course to the Deputy Mayor.
The truth is that Ascot Race Course still stands with its fencing intact.
Ascot is an area bounded by Leopold Takawira and Old Gwanda Road, between George Avenue and UBH. There are other properties there, namely Holiday Inn, Ascot Shopping Centre and Ascot MEWS.
2. The Egodini Development. As was explained at that tumultuous meeting, the advert for expression of interest to develop Egodini was flighted in 2010. Three companies expressed interest to partner the City to develop Egodini. Teracotta was chosen.
Why Teracotta and why a foreign company? We were looking for some one with money. Which local company can raise $60 million? We were not looking for a contractor. We were looking for an investor.
It is not like we were not doing anything between 2010 and the signing of the contract in 2015.
The negotiations were protracted. We wanted to secure a good deal for Council. Surely, there are no timelines when it comes to negotiations.
The suggestion to reverse that investment is most dismaying. Bulawayo needs life. It's a $60 million with a potential to raise 1 000 jobs!
3. Council is not the employer. Councillors do not work for Teracotta and so do not go to them looking for a job.
Teracotta is the contractor and they will employ when they come. Should they want assistance from Council they will say so.
Source - Byo24News
