The mayor’s mansion under the Gweru City Council has been laying idle for a while waiting for tenants to rent it but potential tenants have said the $3000 monthly rentals are too high.
Council reports show that the mansion  is not attractive to would be tenants as it does not have running water. The residence was last used by the city’s executive mayor Sesel Zvidzai whose term ended in 2008.
Minutes of council’s environment committee meeting held on February 3,  state that the value of the building was detoriating while the local authority is not getting any income from it.
“Efforts to lease the house to corporate organisations did not bear fruit since the facility found no takers as the corporates felt that the $3 000 monthly rentals were too high and the facility has no water,” part of the council report reads.
The building has become a white elephant as unrealistic rentals put off  the would be tenants.
Finance committee chairperson councillor Albert Chirau suggested that a borehole should be drilled at the property to make it attractive.
According to the council report, a number of individuals and organisations wanted to turn the mansion into a lodge, school or offices, but were put off by exorbitant rentals.
Some companies such as Unki Mine and Sino Zimbabwe unsuccessfully tried to lease the property for their managers.
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya tried to buy the house, but his offer was turned down by council.- southern eye