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Tadious Manyepo recently in CHIVHU
BOXER Charles Manyuchi will have to re-negotiate with the Chikomba Rural District Council to clear the issue of tenure on the piece of land which was initially earmarked for his sports academy here. The WBF world middleweight champion was offered a two-and-a-half hectare to establish a sports academy, five years ago, as a token of appreciation, for his efforts.
Through his Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy, Manyuchi went on to fence off the area, and put in place some sporting equipment, as the nursery appeared to take shape.
However, three years ago, he was informed that the piece of land, still belonged to the Council. That decision followed an investigation into land ownership, and distribution in Chikomba, ordered by the Ministry of Local Government in 2018. According to the Chikomba Rural District Council chief executive, Bullen Chiwara, the investigation revealed some anomalies, which forced them authority to reconsider their decision. He said the offer for Manyuchi was inconsistent with the full council resolution of 2016, which had called for a partnership between the local authority, and the boxer.
“As Chikomba Rural District Council, we are in support of development and sport is no exception.
“The issue is not about whether we want an academy or not.
‘‘We want it and that’s why there is a resolution to that effect. The issue before us is that of tenure.
‘‘I happened to be in the human resources office when Manyuchi was accorded the chance to put up the academy.
“The land in question is two-and-a-half hectares and the Council resolution of 2016, whose documents are in my office, was that there should be a partnership between Manyuchi and the local authority regards the ownership of the academy.
‘‘The sticking issue was that of percentages because it was never mentioned in that resolution.
‘‘It was probably left to management to implement the resolution.
“However, pursuant to that full Council resolution, there is a communication that was given to Manyuchi, pertaining to an offer of the land.
‘‘It mentioned an issue to do with the land being free.
“He then went on to set up, I think there is a fence around that facility which was surveyed at the Council cost.’’ Chiwara said things changed three years ago, after a review, of all the council’s land offers.
‘‘The issue though came to light, in 2018, when we conducted an investigation ordered by the Ministry of Local Government on land distribution and ownership, in the local authority,’’ he siad.
‘‘The recommendation was that the offer (to Manyuchi) should not stand but Council should stick to the resolution of February 26, 2016, which talked of a partnership.
“The progress at the site had already been stopped during that time. Then we received a letter in 2019, from Manyuchi’s legal team, requesting for a lease or title deeds, to confirm tenure.
‘‘They mentioned that their client had some investors, who wanted to invest in the academy.
‘‘Our town planner responded to the letter, outlining the position of the local authority, in line with the resolution of 2016.”
The sports academy was earmarked for five-a-side football, handball, netball, volleyball and boxing.
Online Reporter