Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
Corruption and poor management of council properties are a long standing issue for the Harare City Council as the Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the city council has exposed loopholes in the local authority’s property lease management system.
During submissions at the Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the Harare City Council this Tuesday, Human Rights Commission chairperson Honourable Jessy Majome, a resident of Mabelreign, gave stunning revelations of a shoddy property lease agreement between Harare City Council and Sherwood Golf Club owners.
“Sherwood Golf Club, a community facility used to be a golf club. The Harare City Council runs and controls the club house. However, the Harare City Council has been leasing out the premise. What used to be a golf club is essentially a night club now, it’s now being used as an open live joint and every week, musicians play amplified music, there is serious drug peddling, sex business thus inconveniencing the whole neighbourhood.
“When our residence association approached the said owner, Mr Briggs Bomba told us he was allowed to run a bar at the premises to recoup his money after saving the property from being attacked by former staff members. We asked him to show us the lease agreement in 2020 and he refused until this day. We went to Rowan Martin Building and approached the city council and we were told by the estate files department that the estate file was missing, there were no documents related to that property.”
It also emerged that a Citizens Coalition for Change Councillor from Mabvuku Ward 21 is allegedly subletting a former Rufaro Marketing beerhall, collecting money for his personal use.
“I operate Hunter bar at the Rufaro Marketing premises. I started renting there four years ago paying rent amounting to US$300 USD to Alexio Nyakudya, Councillor for Ward 21, Mabvuku. The person operating the main bar is paying US$900 while tuckshop owners pay between US$40 and US$100 per each compartment,” said a Mabvuku resident, Mrs Brenda Saurenda.
The Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the Harare City Council is being chaired by Retired High Court Judge Justice Maphios Cheda.
