adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA municipality was this year barred from participating at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair because of a debt of more than $4,000 owed to the show organisers. This came to light during a full council meeting held at the town council chambers on Wednesday. A letter of the termination of the lease agreement was read to the full council.
The meeting heard that the local authority failed to take part at this year’s national showcase after the ZITF Company terminated the lease agreement following a $4,507 debt.
Mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu expressed disappointment over the failure to attend the trade fair. He said the local authority needed to attend to the problem swiftly and pay what it owed as it would cost the council potential investors.
“We will try by all means as the municipality to honor the debt and mend our relations with ZITF. Gwanda was one of the few whose stands were closed. It was just an embarrassment.
“We need investors and we should make sure that we don’t miss the national showcase in future because that is the platform where we can meet potential investors,” said Clr Ndlovu.
Most local companies and organisations and numerous from the region and internationally, have always taken advantage of this annual exhibition to attract investors and also clinch deals and form partnerships.
However, because of the financial crisis faced by the Gwanda municipality, it had to miss the opportunity.
The financial challenges have also seen the municipality struggling to pay its workers on time.
Recently, workers downed tools pressing the council to pay their outstanding three months salaries. However, workers said most of them had been paid this month’s salaries as per agreement made with council.
Online Reporter