The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Municipal Reporter
COUNCILLORS on Wednesday took a swipe at council officials for trying to mislead them in an application for rentals waiver by Rehabilitation and Prevention of Tuberculosis (RAPT).
Sunday News last week exposed the rental scam by the non-governmental organisation which had applied for a 50 percent waiver from the Bulawayo City Council claiming incapacitation while at the same time demanding rentals in foreign currency from its tenants.
According to a council report, the organisation wrote to the local authority requesting a 50 percent write off of its arrears amounting to $84 369 noting that they were struggling to pay off the debt as well as service the community due to lack of donor funding.
‘Investigations however, revealed that the organisation was in actual fact no longer operating at the Mpopoma facility but have sublet the property to KEI Laboratories that is running a community clinic and old people’s home. KEI Laboratories is paying US$900 monthly rentals.
Debating the matter at a full council meeting last Wednesday, councillors accused RAPT of using its private voluntary organisation status to try to defraud the local authority.
They further accused council officials in the finance department and the estates and evaluation department of knowingly excluding vital information on the matter.
“What is before us is a scandalous request by someone who wants to mislead council by presenting facts which are not correct so that this organisation gets this request. You will note that last year RAPT came to us requesting rental reductions and permission to sublet so that they clear what they owed us, of which we acceded to this.
“Now they have come to us trying to defraud council of $42 000 while they are receiving rentals in United States dollars. As council we must block this request and also have our officials visit the said site to see who is operating there because RAPT is no longer operating there,” said Ward Nine Councillor Donaldson Mabutho.
Ward 27 Councillor, Alderman Siboniso Khumalo blasted council staffers for taking them for granted by trying to smuggle through the waiver knowing very well that vital information had been omitted.
“I must warn our council staff that we read these minutes thoroughly and understand them, do not think that we do not read and try to smuggle such, let us be on one page for the betterment of the local authority. I think residents are now taking advantage of this facility that when they request something, we grant them which is very unfortunate. If these people asked for a rental reduction last year, now they are asking for a 50 percent waiver it becomes questionable, such carelessness should not be allowed,” said Ald Khumalo.
Ward Six Councillor Tawanda Ruzive said an investigation should also be instituted on council officials who had supplied misleading information on the application and they be charged according to the code of conduct.
According to a lease agreement signed between REI Labs and RAPT, the former was mandated a monthly rental of US$900 to the later. In a letter to KEI labs, RAPT executive director, Mrs Ellen Ndimande also confirms the organisation’s endorsement of the lease agreement.
