Governor's illegal house spared


By Lance Guma
09 August 2005

A house belonging to Matabeleland North Governor Thokozile Mathuthu was spared from being destroyed under the controversial operation 'murambatsvina' despite its 'illegal' status. Police destroyed thousands of homes under government orders arguing they did not have local authority permission. The selective nature of the exercise is however slowly emerging from the debris of events. The house belonging to the Governor has several illegal structures not approved by council.

The Mayor of Bulawayo, Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, confirmed getting the report but said his office is still investigating the matter. He says it would be jumping the gun for his office to comment fully on the matter given its sensitivity. However sources in Bulawayo say the house definitely belongs to the Governor and is occasionally used by her parents. Gordon Moyo from Bulawayo Agenda says he is not surprised by the latest revelations. He says Governor Mathuthu was an ordinary member of the community before her appointment, hence a house in the poorer high density suburbs. The omission of her house from the destruction confirms her entry into the ruling elite who then become immune from laws applied towards poor people. Council officials were unwilling to comment on what action, if any, they will take over the issue. Over a million poor people were displaced under the so-called clean up exercise while the richer members of the country were given loopholes to pay their way out of trouble with million-dollar fines.