Harare City boss Nhekairo slams state of Matapi flats
Matapi can be loosely translated to sweet in vernecular but the state of the flats is sour because of space barons
Harare- A top city director on Tuesday said Mbare flats, city stadiums and halls owned by the council are dilapidated as lack of funds to repair the properties remain a problem, Express Mail Zim can report.
“In terms of maintenance of hostels, the major problem has been the raising of financial resources for regular maintenance of the flats,” Edmore Nhekairo, Harare City Council, Director of Housing and Community Services said in his testimony at the commission of inquiry into the running of the capital this week.
Nhekairo said “space barons” at Matapi and other flats have been collecting rentals illegally.
The city council has also failed to collect rentals to maintain the dilapidated flats which have frequent sewer bursts, overcrowding and lawlessness.
He could not name the “space barons” whom he said we’re affiliated to a political party.
He said Gwanzura, Dzivarasekwa and Glamis Stadia are bad shape and require to be refurbished.
Zimbabwe has been playing soccer games in other African countries because no stadium meet FIFA standards.
Nhekairo who is in charge of housing, education and social services, stadiums, parks and cemeteries and small and medium enterprises said the council’s 27 halls dilapidated and need to be repaired.
One of the beneficiaries is one Zanu PF loyalist known as JB who runs Club Zone at Machipisa shopping centre in Highfield.
