Former mayor faces eviction from council property

KWEKWE City Council has engaged its lawyers as it moves a gear up in its battle to evict former Executive Mayor, Mr Stanford Bonyongwa, out of the controversial mayoral mansion, the incumbent mayor, Councillor Shadreck Tobaiwa has said.

In an interview on Friday, Clr Tobaiwa said the council has already served Mr Bonyongwa with an eviction notice.

He said the council would be meeting with its lawyers after the holidays as a follow up to a council resolution passed at a full council meeting to evict Mr Bonyongwa from the council property.

"A council resolution to evict Mr Bonyongwa was already passed and we have since issued the former mayor with an eviction letter. He has overstayed at the mayoral mansion and the law states clearly that any employee occupying council property should vacate such premises within three months from the day of termination of contract or employment. We will be meeting with our lawyers after the holidays only as a follow up to the resolution to evict the former mayor from the mayoral mansion," he said.

Mr Bonyongwa, like all former Executive Mayors, was entitled to a house and a car as part of his exist package. However, the former mayor of Kwekwe only got the Mercedes Benz that he used for official duties minus the mansion prompting a bitter protracted war between the council and its former boss.

Clr Tobaiwa said although the former mayor was entitled to a house and car as part of his exist package, the council, guided by a directive memorandum from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, advised the former mayor to choose a house of his liking among the council's city properties.

"Mr Bonyongwa identified a house in Newtown which used to be the residence of our chamber secretary. He should pay only 50 percent of the value of the house. We will follow council by-laws which stipulate that anyone who buys property or a stand from the council should pay 25 percent of the value of the said property as deposit. This means Mr Bonyongwa will have to pay 25 percent of the agreed price of the house, if he is to own it. This means he will pay 25 percent of 50 percent of the actual value. The balance can be paid in later months. It appears like he is failing to raise the prerequisite 25 percent deposit but we can't be blamed for that. He should move out of the mayoral mansion," he said.

The City's former mayor has been living in the mayoral mansion for the past four years ever since the 2008 harmonised elections brought an end to executive mayors.

Clr Tobaiwa said the council remained committed to honouring Mr Bonyongwa's exist package. He said he will ensure that the former mayor gets his house, once he paid the required deposit for the property.

He said the council could not tamper with Mr Bonyongwa's benefits as it was part of the agreement he had with his former employers, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development.

"We cannot tamper with the agreement that Mr Bonyongwa had with the ministry but he should move out of the council property first. We even have the ministry's letter that spells out what is due to Mr Bonyongwa. We will honour the contract and make sure that Mr Bonyongwa gets his benefits. However, he can't occupy council property years after terminating service with us," said Clr Tobaiwa.

Mr Bonyongwa could not be contacted for a comment.