THE cash-strapped Gwanda town council has offered a two-bedroomed house in the high-density township of Senondo to Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abedinico Ncube for $5 000 following a directive by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo that the house be sold to him. ALBERT NCUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
Although council management had valued the house at $12 759,23, Ncube is going to pay $5 000 after $8 160 — the rentals he paid during his 17-year stay at the house — was deducted.
Similar houses in the township are being sold for $15 000.
Ncube had been renting the house for the past 17 years, but was later ordered out following a legal battle with the municipality.
The then MDC-led council led by former mayor Lionel De Necker argued that he had completed his Jacaranda house and had to relocate so that the council house could be allocated to a deserving person.
A letter written to Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo by Chombo dated August 20 2013 reads: “I am reliably informed that your council turned down a request by A Ncube to purchase house number 82 Senondo township under home ownership which he resided in for 17 years.
“There are houses in council which were granted home ownership status and his request to have his house granted the same was turned down without any convincing reasons.
“It is against this background that I am compelled to exercise the powers vested in me as the minister and direct you to sell house number 82 Senondo township to Abedinico Ncube.”
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Documents showed that the municipality has heeded Chombo’s directive. A letter written by Mlilo to Ncube on December 3 reads: “I am pleased to advise you that council has agreed to sell the house to you as per ministerial directive.”
According to a valuation report attached to the letter, the cost of the housing material and labour is pegged at $12 665,48 while the land value is $93,75.
Rental payment calculated at $480 per year for 17 years adds up to $8 160, which is deducted from the total cost, leaving Ncube to pay $4 599,23.
