MAYORAL MANSION TURNED INTO HIGH COURT?
Government has approached council seeking to utilise the mayoral mansion, currently lying idle, for High Court sessions.
Whenever the High Court circuit is in session in the Midlands provincial capital, it uses the magistrate courts to conduct its business.
As a result, the lower court is forced to postpone its sessions.
To guard against this, the Ministry of Justice has made a request, through the commission running the city’s affairs, seeking to turn the mayoral mansion into a High Court.
Tsunga Mhangami, the commission’s chairman, confirmed the development this week, saying they will deliberate on the matter in due course.
“We would have to discuss and make consultations because it is a public property and, when the Gweru people feel it can be used as a High Court, then who are we to say no,” he said.
Built in the late 1990s, the house has been lying idle since 2008 when then executive mayor, Sesel Zvidzai, vacated the property when his term lapsed.
Instead of allowing the property to turn into a white elephant, council is under pressure to find ways of generating revenue from the building.
At one time, ZANU-PF politician, Jason Machaya, made an offer to buy the house, but his bid was turned down by council.
Council had also tried to lease out the property for US$3,000 per month but it found no takers.
It was then resolved last year to turn the property into a lodge but nothing of the sort happened after mayor, Hamutendi Kombayi, was suspended, along with his councillors.- FINGAZ