News / Regional
Council moves families into beer hall
22 Feb 2015 at 16:56hrs | Views
IN an unprecedented move the Gwanda municipality has announced it will move some families, including children, from the Old Location into MaNkomo beer hall as it upgrades the one-roomed houses they currently occupy, The New Zimbabwe reported.
Chairperson of the housing committee Thulani Moyo stunned residents when he announced the council decision at a meeting called by councilors at Phelandaba stadium Saturday morning.
"We will be moving families into storerooms at MaNkomo whilst we upgrade their homes. The builders say they will be taking up to two weeks to complete three houses thereafter the families will move in to their new houses," said councilor Moyo.
"Do not be surprised to see people there; we could not get them alternative accommodation."
Once upgraded the houses will have a bedroom, lounge, kitchen and a toilet.
However council could find themselves in trouble with human rights organisations for moving people into inhabitable residences.
"How does one move children into a night club, it's against the law. Where will the children be playing? They should have approached churches," murmured one resident in response.
MaNkomo beer hall, owned by council, is located at the Old Location adjacent to the bus terminus.
Although frequented by rural travellers during the day, the beer hall is a haven for prostitutes and unruly commuter touts during the night.
The no-holds barred meeting was called to discuss the erratic water supplies and other developmental issues affecting the Matabeleland South capital.
Gwanda mayor Knowledge Ndlovu told residents that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was not pumping adequate supplies because the municipality owes them almost $7, 2 million.
Ndlovu said council was finding it difficult to service the debt as residents were not paying their bills.
"We need to pay our bills so we can have uninterrupted water supplies. Zinwa needs us to pay almost $140 000 monthly for water supplies but we have been collecting $15 000," said the mayor.
The construction of a new water reservoir meant to ease the town's perennial water woes has been halted because the government has no money.
Chairperson of the housing committee Thulani Moyo stunned residents when he announced the council decision at a meeting called by councilors at Phelandaba stadium Saturday morning.
"We will be moving families into storerooms at MaNkomo whilst we upgrade their homes. The builders say they will be taking up to two weeks to complete three houses thereafter the families will move in to their new houses," said councilor Moyo.
"Do not be surprised to see people there; we could not get them alternative accommodation."
Once upgraded the houses will have a bedroom, lounge, kitchen and a toilet.
However council could find themselves in trouble with human rights organisations for moving people into inhabitable residences.
"How does one move children into a night club, it's against the law. Where will the children be playing? They should have approached churches," murmured one resident in response.
MaNkomo beer hall, owned by council, is located at the Old Location adjacent to the bus terminus.
Although frequented by rural travellers during the day, the beer hall is a haven for prostitutes and unruly commuter touts during the night.
The no-holds barred meeting was called to discuss the erratic water supplies and other developmental issues affecting the Matabeleland South capital.
Gwanda mayor Knowledge Ndlovu told residents that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was not pumping adequate supplies because the municipality owes them almost $7, 2 million.
Ndlovu said council was finding it difficult to service the debt as residents were not paying their bills.
"We need to pay our bills so we can have uninterrupted water supplies. Zinwa needs us to pay almost $140 000 monthly for water supplies but we have been collecting $15 000," said the mayor.
The construction of a new water reservoir meant to ease the town's perennial water woes has been halted because the government has no money.
Source - NewZimbabwe.com
