News / National
Obert Mpofu to rescue Gwanda
20 Nov 2013 at 01:40hrs | Views
THE cash-strapped Gwanda Town Council, currently facing a deepening water crisis after failing to settle a $5 million debt it owes the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), on Monday resolved to sell a commercial stand to Transport and Infrastructure Development minister Obert Mpofu to raise funds to repay part of the liability.
The resolution came at a special full council meeting specifically called to tackle the town's water problems that have seen some residents going without running water for 10 consecutive days.
The closed door meeting lasted the whole day, but sources told Southern Eye that council had decided to sell a commercial stand worth $90 000 to Mpofu in a desperate bid to raise the $46 000 that Zinwa is demanding before it can restore normal water supplies.
The commercial stand had initially been reserved for Nyaradzo Funeral Services, but council resolved to sell it to Mpofu to raise money as a matter of urgency.
The special meeting was also attended by the Zinwa Umzingwane catchment area manager Tony Rosen.
Gwanda council housing committee chairperson Thulani Moyo reportedly told the meeting that Mpofu had indicated to him that he was looking for a commercial stand in the town and was ready to pay cash for it.
"The council is now banking on Mpofu to make the cash payment which will in turn be forwarded to Zinwa because right now the council is broke," the source who attended the meeting said.
The Zanu PF-led council also resolved to remit 70% of revenue collected from water bills to Zinwa to reduce its debt.
Mpofu has of late shown interest in Gwanda town after buying two buildings in the last year.
He recently hiked rentals by 100% at a building he bought from Forbes and Thompson in the town centre resulting in some tenants vacating the premises citing failure to pay.
The water crisis has reached unprecedented levels which have crippled operations at Gwanda Hospital raising concerns of an outbreak of disease at the institution as well as in the town's schools.
Zinwa said council had only paid $2 000 in the last five months towards servicing its debt.
Zinwa said it needed the money to purchase water purification chemicals and to pay outstanding salaries of some of its employees who have gone for months without pay.
The resolution came at a special full council meeting specifically called to tackle the town's water problems that have seen some residents going without running water for 10 consecutive days.
The closed door meeting lasted the whole day, but sources told Southern Eye that council had decided to sell a commercial stand worth $90 000 to Mpofu in a desperate bid to raise the $46 000 that Zinwa is demanding before it can restore normal water supplies.
The commercial stand had initially been reserved for Nyaradzo Funeral Services, but council resolved to sell it to Mpofu to raise money as a matter of urgency.
The special meeting was also attended by the Zinwa Umzingwane catchment area manager Tony Rosen.
Gwanda council housing committee chairperson Thulani Moyo reportedly told the meeting that Mpofu had indicated to him that he was looking for a commercial stand in the town and was ready to pay cash for it.
The Zanu PF-led council also resolved to remit 70% of revenue collected from water bills to Zinwa to reduce its debt.
Mpofu has of late shown interest in Gwanda town after buying two buildings in the last year.
He recently hiked rentals by 100% at a building he bought from Forbes and Thompson in the town centre resulting in some tenants vacating the premises citing failure to pay.
The water crisis has reached unprecedented levels which have crippled operations at Gwanda Hospital raising concerns of an outbreak of disease at the institution as well as in the town's schools.
Zinwa said council had only paid $2 000 in the last five months towards servicing its debt.
Zinwa said it needed the money to purchase water purification chemicals and to pay outstanding salaries of some of its employees who have gone for months without pay.
Source - southerneye
