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Blessings Chidakwa and Vongai Chinjeke
Local authorities have been urged to take over some of their assets including beerhalls that have been grabbed by space barons prejudicing them of potential revenue.
Addressing the media yesterday on the demolition of illegal structures in Mbare and cessation of the activities of space barons, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Oliver Chidawu said councils should derive value from their properties.
Minister Chidawu said it was shocking that even some public toilets in Harare had been grabbed by space barons who were charging members of the public a premium to get access to the toilets.
“Regarding the public toilets, we are not against mutually beneficial public private partnerships between enterprising individuals and our councils but we will not accept the hostile takeover of public facilities by rogue elements abusing the names of politicians or political parties,” he said.
Minister Chidawu’s remarks came after The Herald recently exposed corruption and poor management of Harare City Council properties which saw ex-employees, who must vacate rented flats within three months of resignation or retirement, subletting the properties.
The ex-employees were pocketing between US$250 and US$400 monthly some decades after leaving employment.
Some of the flats were now being occupied by girlfriends of council top brass or ex-bosses, who were not even paying anything to council.
In the event that the ex-employee died, their spouse and children would “inherit” the council flat and continue subletting without any follow-up or checks by the council.
A number of the houses appear to have been totally forgotten and are no longer on the council records.
Online Reporter