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TENANTS occupying Zanu-PF properties in Rusape are facing an imminent boot after an internal probe revealed that they owed the party thousands of dollars in unremitted rentals.
A six-member committee led by Politburo member Cde Kudzi Chipanga has recommended that the party takes over direct control of all its assets – which are generating $8 500 per month.
Apart from Cde Chipanga the team also includes lawyer and provincial youth leader Cde Kelvin Manyengavana, war veterans’ leader Cde Mike Makiweni, Kudzi Madhara and Central Committee member Cde Lucia Chitura.
The committee cited former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa as the sole beneficiary of proceeds from the party’s commercial property and service station at No. 28 Tongogara Street.
The property is in the hands of his front, Ms Mandi Majoni, who controversially pushed out Cleopas Mugomba, who has a valid lease agreement until 2017.
The two parties for the past months have been involved in a catfight over the property.
Majoni has been collecting monthly rentals from flea market vendors and, according to the committee, has remitted only one month’s rentals since taking control of the properties in August 2014.
The revelations contradict Ms Majoni’s public claims that she had paid an advance deposit of $60 000.
The report has since been given to the secretary for legal affairs in the Politburo and Finance Minister, Cde Patrick Chinamasa.
Cde Chipanga on Wednesday said he was in a meeting and would return our call but had not done so at the time of going to print.
However, a source close to the investigations told The Manica Post that all rentals will, with immediate effect, go into the party coffers.
“The party is not getting even a penny from these properties. The present tenant only paid rentals for one month and that is August 2014, and the M&S Syndicate board could not do anything fearing reprisals from Cde Mutasa.
“This was in violation of the lease agreement, on whose strength that she has all along been collecting rentals from flea market vendors.
“She was controversially awarded that lease since there was one that was already in existence and expiring in 2017. It is on that strength that we have recommended the termination of her lease because she has already violated it,” said the source.
The committee has also recommended House No. 586 Arcacia Avenue be rented out to a tenant willing to pay competitive rentals.
Currently the house was being occupied by two youths, who were not paying rentals.
The probe team also suggested that relatives of parliamentarian Cde Annah Kavhu (women’s quota) be kicked out of the Matunhu Co-operative shop at the main bus terminus and the Women’s League house (NE 380) in Vengere.
War veterans’ leader Cde Mike Makiweni said they have discovered a ploy by some senior officials in the league, who in 2005, tried to change the ownership of the house into an individual’s name.
“Our investigations have proved that.
“The ploy was foiled at the last minute by a full council meeting, which then opposed the proposal saying the house was meant to assist party members who get stranded while in Rusape not individuals of means,” said Cde Makiweni.
The council also ruled that if the “league was no longer interested in the house” then it should surrender it back to council.
Cde Kavhu was evasive over the occupants of the house.
She said the house was in the hands of a caretaker who was not paying rentals.
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