BULAWAYO COUNCIL SNUBS INVESTOR

THE Bulawayo City Council has turned down an organisation’s request to lease two factory shells at Kelvin North industrial area for purposes of wood furniture manufacturing.
Report by Pamela Mhlanga

According to the latest council minutes, Bright Hopes Co-operative had applied to the local authority requesting to lease two factory shells to set up a common facility centre with assistance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), for all wood workers in Bulawayo.
The organisation said the move was expected to create employment opportunities for residents in the city.
“Bright Hopes Co-operative Society is kindly requesting for a workshop facility from the city council to assist its members in their operations,” the application read.
“The co-operative, with the assistance of the International Labour Organisation, wishes to set up a common facility centre for all wood workers in Bulawayo.”
The organisation said ILO would supply machinery, while the local authority will be expected to assist in providing workshops.
“The co-operative will be responsible for the payment of rentals,” the organisation said.
“We have identified two shops, number 40 and 42 from Phase I Kelvin North. These shops are ideal for such activities and are currently not allocated to anyone.”
However, the city council resolved that the application by Bright Hopes Co-operative must not be acceded to and recommended that the factory shells should be put to tender instead.
This was resolved after a council discussion where mixed feelings over the application had earlier on been reflected with the financial director Kempton Ndimande having no objections to the organisation’s request, as long as appropriate charges were levied on the factory shells.
Ward 14 councillor Phenias Ndlovu observed that the two factory shells at Kelvin North were vacant and council urgently required revenue.
Chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou advised that factory shells were allocated through a tender system and as such this application could not be supported.
Deputy mayor Amen Mpofu noted that there was a directive on allocation of council premises.
“The recent announcement by the relevant ministry that the local authority could allocate vacant premises was not clear as no official letter had been received from the government,” he said.
In response to issues raised, a senior housing official explained that the applicant was seeking premises to operate from and had a willing donor that had already donated equipment.
http://www.southerneye.co.zw/2013/06/12/bulawayo-council-snubs-investor/