Zanu PF councilor 'turns new community clinic into a beerhall'

A Zanu PF councillor in Gutu Central is facing allegations of abusing public property after reportedly turning an unfinished council clinic into a beer hall for nearly a year.

Ward 22 councillor Thandavanu Simbanegavi has been accused by villagers and local sources of operating a drinking establishment from Mupasimba Clinic, a health facility built through a partnership between the Gutu Rural District Council and the local community.

The clinic, which remains incomplete and is yet to open its doors to patients, was constructed using bricks, sand and labour provided by villagers, while the local authority supplied roofing materials, cement, windows and door frames.

Community members allege that Simbanegavi used the facility as a personal business venture, selling alcoholic beverages from the premises from morning until the early hours of the following day.

However, Simbanegavi strongly denied the allegations when contacted for comment.

She acknowledged that she had temporarily taken a refrigerator to the clinic during an outreach programme attended by Minister of State for National Security Lovemore Matuke and Gutu Central legislator Winston Chitando, but insisted she had never operated a beer hall at the facility.

Simbanegavi accused her political opponents of fabricating the allegations in an attempt to tarnish her reputation.

"These are lies being spread by people who want to destroy me," she said.

Former Ward 22 councillor Bickson Muzenda, however, maintained that the clinic was used as a beer hall for almost a year and said the practice only stopped after complaints from villagers and reports made to council authorities.

"Villagers later saw the clinic being used as a beer hall and this pained the community. The clinic worked as a beer hall for one year," said Muzenda.

He said the situation was particularly frustrating given the community's efforts to build the facility and the continued lack of healthcare services in the ward.

"There is no clinic in the ward. The one that was here was moved to another ward after a delimitation exercise. People are walking 15 kilometres to the nearest clinics in other wards," he said.

Muzenda said he initiated the project in 2010 when he tabled a motion in council seeking approval for the construction of the clinic.

"In 2010 I moved a motion seeking approval for the construction of the clinic and this was endorsed by all councillors. The clinic was pegged and built," he said.

He also raised concerns over the disposal of farm bricks that villagers had moulded for the project.

According to Muzenda, the bricks were later condemned by council and sold to various schools, with no clear accounting provided to the community regarding the proceeds.

"The community played a pivotal role in building the clinic. People moulded bricks and provided labour. To my surprise, after my term I heard the bricks were sold to different schools," he said.

Gutu Rural District Council chief executive officer Alexander Mtembwa said he had not received reports that the clinic had been used as a beer hall.

He confirmed, however, that the facility was built through a collaborative effort between villagers and the council and indicated that it could become operational before the end of 2027.

The allegations have sparked concern among residents who say the clinic should have long been completed and commissioned to serve a community that continues to travel long distances to access healthcare.

Villagers and former local leaders are now calling for authorities to investigate the claims and expedite the completion of the clinic so that it can begin serving the community for its intended purpose.