Gweru town clerk bitter over mansion

GWERU councillors have clashed with their town clerk after they resolved to turn the 20-roomed mayoral mansion into a lodge.

Town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza insists that she should occupy the mansion because it was part of the package that attracted her to join the council.

“There is a lot of talk regarding the mayoral mansion,” she said.

“To begin with, it is a package that made me join Gweru City Council.

“When l got this job l was supposed to be booked in a hotel until council found suitable accommodation, but l decided to commute while waiting for council to find suitable accommodation.”

Ms Gwatipedza commutes from Redcliff to Gweru daily, nearly 50 kilometres away.

On Wednesday, a special council meeting upheld a 2015 resolution to turn the mayoral mansion into a guest lodge.

In an interview on Friday, Gweru mayor councillor Charles Chikozho confirmed the resolution.

He said they were sticking to their 2015 resolution to convert the mayoral mansion into a lodge to boost council revenue.

“As of now our position regarding the mayoral mansion is to turn the mayor’s house into a guest lodge,” said Clr Chikozho.

“As for the town clerk, the council is now sorting out her accommodation elsewhere.”

Ms Gwatipedza joined the local authority last December.

Gweru United Residents Association (GURA) secretary-general Mr Reward Mhuri had no kind words for Ms Gwatipedza, labelling her as an overzealous and greedy person.

“The town clerk is overzealous and greedy,” he said.

“As residents we are taken aback by her behaviour to want to take over the mansion.

“The clash with the councillors was bound to happen sooner rather than later.”

The mayoral mansion has been under massive renovations over the past few months.