AT the dawn of this millennium in 2002, the then Murewa Rural District Council (MRDC) chairperson, Stanley Jakopo occupied a council house located at the heart of the transitioning small town of Macheke along the Harare-Mutare Highway, in Mashonaland East province.
After his tenure, council had a rude awakening after learning that he was refusing to vacate the US$40 000 property to pave way for his successor or at least a new tenant who would be paying rentals to the local authority.
For two decades the local authority failed to claim the house located in the famous Nyazema Township, prejudicing council on quite a handsome amount in potential revenue.
For 20 years, Macheke residents had been in the dark as to who owns the property, until acting Auditor-General (AG) Rheah Kujinga paid a visit to the unassuming small town surrounded by both commercial farms as well as resettlements areas.
Despite its idyllic outlook, its strategic location straddling the country’s eastern rail and road gateway to Mozambique probably prompted Kujinga to cast her prying eyes in its direction.
According to Kujinga’s 2022 finance audit results, the house which Jakopo has refused to vacate is a curious council asset which needs to the probed.
“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 20 years ago. I was not availed with correspondences on how the former chairperson got to occupy the house,” Kujinga wrote in her report.
“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 rent to Council,” added Kujinga.
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A former Zanu PF councillor in Murewa, who declined to be named fearing a political backlash, confided: “During our time in council, he said he has some documents to show that he was given the house by council but there are no minutes to prove that. They are just claims, council management is also refuting that.”
Jakopo is also a former Zanu PF central committee member, having served his tenure alongside such Zanu PF bigwigs from Murewa district as David Parirenyatwa and Lillian Zemura.
MRDC chairperson Amos Gutu said they are working on securing the property.
“The Auditor-General’s findings are correct. When we acquired the latest developments, we found out that he (Jakopo) has asked for a three month notice in May for him to vacate the house, I will furnish you with the latest developments once I get them,” Gutu told NewsDay.
Kujinga revealed that the local authority could not deny having lost the house to the politician.
“MRDC management said they will renew efforts to repossess the property and put it to good use for the benefit of ratepayers and council,” she said.
Contacted for comment, Jakopo confirmed his occupation of the house, but blamed council for contributing to the whole mess.
“I am not refusing to vacate the house at all. I am not happy with how council is handling the whole issue. I have since written to council notifying them to take their property. I was allocated the house in 2003 and as part of the deal I was paying rates to the local authority consistently. Why is it appearing as if I am refusing with the house, while at the same time paying rates?,” Jakopo queried.
He revealed that council is yet to come back to him to claim the house back after he notified it of his intensions to move out.
“The issue is I tabled my offer on the issue of a golden handshake, just like any council chair who came before and after me, they got residential stands as exit packages, but I got nothing except living in the house. A committee was set up to look into the matter and I am still waiting for them to notify me on the next move.
“Council is not being sincere in this, hence I wrote them a letter to take back their property so that they stop putting the blame on me,” Jakopo added.
Efforts to get a comment from MRDC chief executive officer, Alois Gurajena were fruitless.
The house, located in one of the town’s oldest townships is fast depreciating its value due to neglect and lack of maintenance.
Residents told NewsDay that council has been inconsistent on its policies hence failure to reclaim the property.
“Council is not consistent on its policies. They keep changing, hence failing to gain power to repossess the house at the expense of ratepayers. Everything is not clear and transparent. If they gave other former council chairpersons residential stands as tokens why not do the same for this guy?” one of the residents said.
Thanks to the Auditor-General’s efforts, the people of Macheke are now enlightened on the Nyazema council house which remains a playground for politicians and council managers as the expense of the ratepayers.
