Kwekwe City Council has started renovating its mayoral
mansion with a view of converting the property into a lodge.
Located in the affluent Hillandale suburb, the house was
left vacant by the previous mayor, Matenda Titos Madzoke, following a public
outcry.
Prior to that, councillors led by then mayor and current
deputy mayor, Cllr Shadreck Tobaiwa, turned down a proposal to sell the house
saying it was against council policy.
Incumbent Mayor, Councilor Angeline Kasipo has not moved
into the mansion three years after occupying the influential position.
A source close to the happenings however has it on good
authority that the house was to be turned into a lodge to help generate income
for the financially beleaguered local authority.
“The mansion is meant to be converted into a lodge. This is
why you see renovations being carried out at the mansion. Councillors proposed
that instead of it being left to lie idle like that,’ said a source on
condition of anonymity.
Speaking during a recent full council meeting, Kwekwe
Director of Housing Mr Edson Chiyangwa confirmed that renovations were underway
at the mansion.
“We are working with our colleagues from the engineering
department and we have managed to acquire most of the material needed for the
job. Very soon we will be giving feedback on the progress but the work is going
on well,” said Mr Chiyangwa.
Cllr Kasipo could neither confirm nor deny the development
saying a decision was yet to be made regarding the mansion.
“Yes, we are renovating because the mansion was now in a
bad state. But we are yet as council to make a decision on what to do with the
house after renovations. As of now we are still concentrating on the
renovations,” she said.
Government did not specify whether ceremonial mayors should
occupy mayoral mansions that used to be occupied by executive mayors.
The last executive mayor for the city, Stanford Bonyongwa
once caused a stir when he demanded the mansion as his exit package before he
was given another Newtown house. Chronicle
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