GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA 

MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – Zanu PF councillor for Masvingo Urban Ward 10, Sengerayi Manyanga, has caused an outcry among residents and ratepayers after he forced his way into a low-density council house in Eastvale.

The terms of his occupancy of a council house intended for senior employees are not clear. It is also not clear whether Manyanga who has been in the house for over a year is paying rentals.

Spokespersons for different Residents Associations told The Mirror that whatever the arrangement between the council and Manyanga, his occupancy of Stand number 5529 Mutirikwi Close in Eastvale is in conflict with his oversight role as a councillor, and ‘it stinks’.

Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa confirmed the occupancy and said that Manyanga is occupying the house temporarily. He described him as a caretaker of the house.

“I can confirm that Manyanga is staying at a house owned by Masvingo City Council but he is only staying there as a caretaker. The position of the person who is supposed to be occupying that house is vacant. We will be contacting our interviews next week. 

“The time Manyanga will stay at the house will depend on how long it takes the Local Government Board to approve the appointment. It can take up to three months,” said Mukaratirwa.  

However, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti came out guns blazing and said a councillor cannot be a caretaker. He said that was a serious conflict of interest.

 “How can a councillor become a caretaker at a council house. This raises serious governance issues. In the first place, one must be staying somewhere for him or her to be eligible to contest as a councillor. One should be a resident of a ward where one becomes a councillor. Now, if one is given council accommodation after being elected into office, it raises questions of legitimacy.

“We don’t expect policymakers to stoop so low as to coerce council officials to give them free accommodation. The only logical conclusion is that the policy maker is being rewarded for some favour,” said Muguti.

 Prosper Tiringindi, the coordinator of Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) reiterated the same.

He said it was skewed for a councillor to stay in a council house when council employees are renting elsewhere.

“Manyanga is just showing greediness and selfishness. He is supposed to represent those employees, but instead, he is forcing them out. I am not sure who he is representing now,” said Tiringindi.   

There are also indications that some council employees were pushed out of the house to allow Manyanga to move in.

 Manyanga saw nothing wrong with his occupancy of a council house. He said he was like any other ratepayer, paying rentals for the house. He accused Muguti and Tiringindi of politicizing issues.

“I am a human being, and I am also a resident. So I pay my rentals to the council. MURRA and MRT are trying to politicize the matter, but it’s just a simple issue. 

“I am not the first one to do that, even the late Misheck Gapare once stayed at a council house. There is nothing amiss about the whole thing. I am yet to finish building my house in Rujeko,” said Manyanga.  https://masvingomirror.com/