Chinhoyi leases out beerhalls

CHINHOYI Municipality’s 20-year-old resolution to lease out all its beerhalls to willing suitors in a bid to improve monthly revenue inflows has finally taken off.

In an interview yesterday, Chinhoyi Municipality spokesperson Mr Tichaona Mlauzi

(pictured below) said the local authority had issued tenders to lease out three out of its seven liquor outlets.

The tender issued on Monday attracted eight bidders from the local community.

“The decision to lease our liquor outlets was made back in 1998, so we considered it necessary to continue with the decision as it allows us to generate more funds,” Mr Mlauzi said.

The liquor outlets to be leased include two at Alaska Mine - the tavern and beerhall - while the other one is the tavern at the Shackleton Mine settlement.

Mr Mlauzi said all of the local authority’s liquor outlets are operating under lease agreements.

He said some of them had been converted into pre-schools and industrial sites.

“Jongwe Tavern and Chinhoyi 1 beerhalls are operating as liquor outlets but under lease agreement,” he said.

“Hunyani Section beerhall was converted into a pre-school, while Donhodzo was converted into a home industry.”

Mr Mlauzi said the initial rental costs are set to be gazetted.

Chinhoyi Municipality generates an estimated $340 000 monthly, which is $40 000 less than its monthly wage bill.