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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A storm is brewing at Masvingo City Council over a payment of US$43 000 made by Nyaradzo Life Assurance company to it for the resurfacing of a 100-metre stretch of road leading to the funeral company’s office in the city in 2016.

The matter, which dominated a full council meeting on Monday evening, threatened to divide the city’s management as treasury admitted that council indeed received the money and accused the engineering department of not having done anything over the past three years.

Ward 10 Councillor Sengerai Manyanga told the meeting that there were concerns over the non-implementation of the project which had been paid for and they wanted answers on why it had taken so long. “We are fully aware that Nyaradzo Life Assurance Company offered to resurface a 100m stretch of road leading to their office from Bredban Street,” said Cllr Manyanga. “They reportedly paid about US$43 000 towards the project after council asked the company for the money so that its engineers can do the project.

“We are told the company had offered to do the project itself since it has its own engineers, but council refused. Can you furnish us on what transpired and when do you think the project will be done.”

Ward 9 Cllr Against Chiteme also voiced concern over the delay and accused council management of stifling investment in the city by taking on projects when it had no capacity to undertake them.

“I think our attitude as council, especially of our management, drives away investors,” he said.

“How can a funded project take this long to implement? We should be serious about these things as indications are that the company is considering not paying service charges over the issue.”

City engineer Tawanda Gozo admitted that they had been sitting on the project and shocked the meeting when he blamed the delays in the implementation of the project on rains.  He assured the meeting that they would start on the project soon.

“It is true Nyaradzo has paid for the road project, but efforts to work on the projects have been affected by the rains,” said Eng Gozo.

“Every time we tried to start on the project, we were disturbed by the rains. However, the project will be done soon.”