Chinhoyi deputy mayor fingered in illicit deals

Mash West Bureau
Chinhoyi Deputy Mayor Councillor Derrick Matapura has been fingered in illicit deals around the town, among them operating his business at an undesignated premises, a move which council admitted to be aware of. The illicit deal was unmasked last week at a stakeholders meeting between council and the business community, where a local man came out guns blazing attacking the local authority for covering up Cllr Matapura, who was polluting a golf course through his car wash for nearly two years now.

Cllr Matapura operates a car wash at an undesignated place near Econet Building in the Central Business District of Chinhoyi. Chinhoyi acting public relations officer Mr Tichaona Mlauzi admitted that council was aware of the operation and said necessary measures were being taken to stop him. Chinhoyi Council senior development officer Mr Tendai Mukuruva also said council was aware of the issue and necessary measures were being put in place to resolve the issue.

“We know the place you are talking about, it is being dealt with the planning department,” he said.
“Last week we also sent letters of vacation to all the people operating at undesignated places including those doing tyre mending.” Cllr Matapura came under fire last year for assaulting a hapless man in a video that went viral on social media. He allegedly admitted that he had a confrontation with the man, but dismissed the video as doctored, as some incidents were edited out. Mr Mlauzi also said council had launched a blitz on all business operators in the town who are yet to spruce up their premises, as part of council’s plans to attain a city status by next year.