Zimpapers Logo

Patrick Chitumba and Lovemore Zigara Midlands Reporters
THE Midlands Hotel, which is owned by Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi, owes the local authority more than $300,000 in water and rates bills as at April 15 and allegedly still uses council water when residents with small debts are handed over to debt collectors.

According to water bills seen by The Chronicle, Clr Kombayi’s hotel, which is situated at Number 60 Main Street, has not made an effort to settle the water and rates account with the city of Gweru since 2012.

The bill has ballooned to $336,145.06 as at April 15. The account includes a water fixed charge, sewage charge, refuse removal and conveyance charges, among others.Town clerk, Daniel Matawu owes council $1,135 while the director of finance Edgar Mwedzi owes council $857.

The director of housing and community services Unity Jaji owes council $438 as at March 31.

Workers alleged that their employer was quick to hand them to debt collectors over “little” amounts they owed council while the local authority protected management and councillors.

Clr Kombayi confirmed that his hotel owed the local authority but said his business should not be linked to his person as the mayor of Gweru.

He said the demonstrating employees should not personalise issues but should rather push council to pay their salaries.

Clr Kombayi took a swipe at the council billing system which he said needed to be addressed.

He said they had since engaged the local authority so that it can come up with an acceptable billing system for the Midlands Hotel.

“The person of Hamutendi Kombayi is paying his bills. If you come to my place you will see that my bills are up to date. When you talk about Midlands Hotel you are talking of an institution which is an entity on its own. Midlands Hotel is actually a victim of the council billing system because it is paying $2,800 in rates alone exclusive of water bills,” he said.

“I don’t even pay such an amount to Zesa or TelOne. I don’t know if council is saying I am renting or buying this property again. If you compare with other hotels and lodges in this town they do not pay that much. Lodges are actually paying $60 in rates.”

Clr Kombayi also said water at the hotel was disconnected in 2009 and the hotel was using borehole water.Efforts to get comment from Matawu, Mwedzi and Jaji were fruitless as they were said to be in Beitbridge on council business.

Acting town clerk Christopher Ruwodo declined to say much on the matter. He said council workers who would have been taken to lawyers or debt collectors should approach management as soon as possible.

Ruwodo said council workers were mistakenly being taken to debt collectors.

“Yes, you might have the water bills for the Midlands Hotel but I can’t comment on that since I’m here on an acting capacity. But our employees should approach us as soon as they receive letters from lawyers or debt collectors. Their names would have been sent there by mistake because we know that they are behind in salaries and are therefore behind in settling their water bills,” he said.

Meanwhile, council workers continued with their daily tea-break demonstrations over their unpaid salaries and bonuses. Clr Kombayi, who had come to address the workers on their grievances, failed to do so as the employees broke into song and dance.

Sensing that he could be turned into a laughing stock, Clr Kombayi joined the workers in the proceedings and also took to the dance floor much to the chagrin of the workers who felt he was mocking them.