Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
City of Gweru councillors have turned down a request from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to convert Zaire Cocktail Bar in Mkoba 6 into a magistrates court.
The JSC is on a nationwide drive to bring the justice delivery system closer to people. Last year Government promised to set up magistrates’ courts in Epworth, Glen Norah and Budiriro in Harare, while in Bulawayo the courts would be set up in Entumbane and Nkulumane.
At the moment, there is only the Gweru Magistrates Court and the Civil Court that is housed at the Old Prison Complex in the city centre.
The current occupant at Zaire Cocktail Bar is paying US$300 a month while JSC – besides renovating the bar to a court – was expected to pay over US$10 000 in rentals.
The bar is now an eyesore after years of neglect and a previous tenant who was moulding bricks in the premises.
Acting town clerk Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe said JSC had approached the local authority over the setting up of a magistrate’s court in Mkoba.
“JSC said they had found a donor who needs existing infrastructure to renovate into a court and we identified Zaire Cocktail Bar so that the court could set up there. They were going to spruce up the place and add value to Mkoba Six Shopping Centre,” he said.
Mr Chikwekwe said the intention of JSC is to bring the justice delivery system to the people.
“The current tenant is paying US$300 and JSC was going to pay more than US$10 000 if the agreement had been reached,” he said.
Mtapa Ward councillor Godfrey Giwa said the proposal was turned down by councillors.
“The proposal that council gives JSC the Zaire Bar to renovate into a magistrates court was not acceded to. However, if JSC wants land, the council will give such land at an appropriate and convenient site,” he said.
Mayor, Cllr Hamutendi Kombayi said: “Management came with a proposal to take the beer hall and we said no, we can’t give them a beerhall but we will give them land.”
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director Mr Cornelius Selipiwe said councillors must do away with petty politics when it comes to issues to do with development of Gweru.
“If we are to look at what value the bar is bringing to the council we can tell that it’s insignificant. Council is just doing it for community service. I thought it would be wise to turn it into a magistrate’s court to improve service delivery and at the same time have a reliable source of income.
“Maybe they thought that JSC might fail to pay rent, I don’t know. But we have so many bars in Mkoba and taking Zaire was not going to do any harm,” he said.
Local governance expert Vincent Chakunda said the deal, had it materialised, was going to bring more income to the broke local authority.
Two years ago, the same council turned down an offer from the JSC to turn the Mayor’s Mansion into a High Court. The Mayor Mansion is a white elephant which is used by the councillors for party meetings.
Other provinces have High Courts and litigants from Gweru are forced to travel to Bulawayo or Masvingo to access the High Courts.
Online Reporter