Staff Reporter
Murewa Rural District Council (MRDC) has failed to evict a former council chairperson from a council house in Macheke which he has been occupying for more than 20 years without paying rent.
The information has been released in the latest audit report on local authorities for the 2022 financial year.
Acting Auditor General (AG) Rheah Kujinga stated that MRDC is failing to repossess the house in Nyazema Township.
“The Council house (number 498 Nyazema) in Macheke was being occupied by a former Council chairperson since the time he held a Council position more than twenty years ago.
“I was not availed with correspondences on how the former chairperson got to occupy the house.
“In 2010, a resolution to evict the former chairperson was passed but no action had been taken by the time of concluding my report in 2022.
“In addition, the former chairperson was not paying any rentals to the Council,” said Kujinga.
The AG said the implications of such a move results in financial losses due to mismanagement of council properties.
MRDC management said they will renew efforts to repossess the property and put it to good use for the benefit of the ratepayers and council.