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THE Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and suspended Zanu-PF Matabeleland South chairperson, Cde Andrew Langa, is in serious debt and could likely be evicted from his home and other properties in Filabusi due to his continued failure to pay rent.
According to council documents, which Sunday News has in its possession, Cde Langa owes Insiza Rural District Council a staggering $39 115 in unpaid rent, dating as far back as 2009.
Filabusi Town Council is now seeking to invoke Section 151 of the Rural District Councils Act, which gives council the power to take a defaulter, in this case Cde Langa, to court to recover its dues, as it has failed to collect its dues from the minister.
A breakdown of his debt, according to documents, Cde Langa’s Iyanda Lodge situated in Filabusi low-density suburb owes $3 800, from year 2009 to date.
The beleaguered Cde Langa also owes $15 000, from 2009 to date, for his continued stay at the council guest house, which he reportedly had agreed to use for three months, while he was in the process of completing construction of his own.
Cde Langa also owes $15 150 in unpaid rent for the use of the Information Centre office situated at the council offices in Filabusi.
“He has a tendency of becoming riotous when quizzed about his debt. I once approached him with one of my councillors and he threw the invoices we had presented to him in our faces before chasing us away. He literally doesn’t care about the gravity of the issue at hand here, as he “plays his minister card” to intimidate people,” said council chairperson Councillor Daniel Mpofu.
Clr Mpofu said he was now failing to run council business because of Cde Langa’s “massive” debt.
Cde Langa also owes $3 530 and $1 635 for his plot in Fort Rixon and shops respectively.
“I can’t run this district under such circumstances. He is doing all these things soiling the name of the party, while at the same time bringing it into disrepute. Worst case scenario, we will soon seek to invoke Section 151 of the RDC Act to recover council dues. We have issued him with several invoices, which he blatantly refuses to acknowledge. The money he owes to council can be used to pay workers and run council projects. We have been struggling to pay workers because of such tendencies,” said Clr Mpofu.
Clr Mpofu said he was appealing to Government to take appropriate and timely action to deal with and recover their dues from Cde Langa, as he was proving to be difficult to deal with.
When approached for comment, Cde Langa would not take any questions concerning the matter, as he would constantly avoid the subject.
“I talked to your minister (Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo) this morning (Friday, 8 May) about the stories you have been writing in your paper about me,” he said.
Cde Langa tried to coerce one of the reporters into believing that he had played a hand in his academic achievements.
“I know your father . . . I was the one who facilitated your attachment . . . I am surprised you are writing such stories about me, but anyway it’s okay, it’s good that’s how you grow up. Bye-bye,” he said, gesturing the news crew to go away.
Cde Langa was recently fingered in a spate of allegations involving the illegal sale of land in Insiza North.
Cde Langa, who is also the Insiza North member of the National Assembly, was suspended from being the party’s Matabeleland South provincial chairperson last year for allegedly working with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to topple President Mugabe.
Online Reporter