Chitungwiza offers payment plan

Lovemore Meya Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza Municipality has offered to pay Revelations Auctioneers $10 000 a week towards settling a $61 516, 65 debt after the auctioneers refused to release council property they attached.

Council had not paid the auctioneers after they initially demanded $61 516,65. Later, they demanded $36 599,65 leaving council in confusion. Chitungwiza Municipality acting town clerk Ms Charity Maunga told The Herald on Wednesday that they were in talks with Revelations Auctioneers.

“We have not yet received the remaining property because we are still discussing with the Sheriff (of the High Court),” said Ms Maunga. We have not yet reached any conclusive decision as of yesterday (Tuesday) when we had gone to propose a payment plan of $10 000 per week. Our finance team and lawyer went to meet with the Sheriff and we had not agreed on how much we are owing.”

Last week, President Mugabe evoked Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) to stay the attachment and sale in execution of Chitungwiza Municipality’s property and avoid exposing over 354 000 residents to health risks due to poor service delivery.

Chitungwiza recently lost property to creditors who went to court in a bid to recover their funds. It is not clear why Revelations Auctioneers is still holding onto the property, despite the evoking of the Presidential Powers.

The money demanded by Revelations Auctioneers is towards settling storage fees.