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In an interview on the sidelines of a Zanu-PF special provincial coordinating committee meeting at Davies Hall, Dr Chombo said the tender was “criminal”.
“There is a disturbing trend in local authorities, especially the big ones. We find people who have been renting properties on a rent-to-buy agreement for more than 40 years being chucked out of the properties and the new tenants being given the option to buy. This is criminal. In Bulawayo, council is doing it with shops. It must stop at once,” said Dr Chombo.
He said Bulawayo’s Governor and Resident Minister, Ambassador Cain Mathema had spoken to him about the issue and his office was taking action.
“Even on properties where there was no rent-to-buy agreement, a tenant who has been renting for such a long time should be given first option to buy the property. In fact, they would have paid enough rent to buy the premises. It seems our councillors have taken corruption to a higher level by sanctioning this unjust move,” he said.
Dr Chombo said Ambassador Mathema would soon supply his office with a list of the affected shops so that he could take action and ensure justice for sitting tenants.
The move has been met with mixed reactions by Bulawayo residents.
A Pelandaba resident said council was doing what should have been done long ago.
“Some families have been leasing these shops for more than 50 years yet we were made to understand that leases were supposed to be reviewed after every five to 10 years to give everyone a chance,” said Mr Gladman Sigauke (69).
Mr Israel Ncube, whose family has been renting one of the shops since 1953, said it was “criminal” for council not to sell the shops to sitting tenants.
“We have paid rent for so long, the shops should belong to us by now. What makes the situation more unpalatable is that some people have managed to buy their shops from council. We do not know how they did it but we feel we should all be treated in the same way,” said Mr Ncube.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo is on record as saying council policy clearly stated that the shops remained council property and the local authority reserved the right to terminate leases at any given time.
He said a council audit had revealed that most of the shops were no longer honouring their initial lease agreements.
Clr Moyo said the local authority had initially given the owners notice in 2006 but after noting the economic climate in the country, it was resolved to further extend the leases by six years and a further extension was out of the question.
Ambassador Mathema said what council was doing was wrong.
“It should be stopped at once. Some councillors have manipulated the system to get shops for themselves and their friends. This has disadvantaged people who have been faithfully paying rent to council for decades. Some of them have been renting the shops since 1950.
“We cannot let council cheat people in this manner. We are working with Minister Chombo to resolve the issue,” said Ambassador Mathema.
Online Reporter