Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has approved a 2017 request by the family of the late former Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo to exempt them from paying rates at Pelandaba house and at his museum which is located at Nkomo’s Matsheumhlope residence.
Confirming the development, both Ward One councillor, Mlandu Ncube and the Joshua Nkomo Foundation Chief Executive, Jabulani Hadebe said that the decision was influenced by Nkomo’s contribution to Zimbabwe before and after independence. Ncube said:
Bulawayo City Council has approved a request by the Nkomo family to exempt them from paying rates at Pelandaba house and at his museum which is located at Nkomo’s Matsheumhlope residence. The late Father Zimbabwe sacrificed a lot for this country. He really deserves this honour.
The local government authority, however, turned down the family’s request to also exempt them from paying rates and rents at Vice President’s two family-run businesses, Blue Lagoon and Anzac Investments.
Hadebe revealed BCC demanded that the family and foundation first clear arrears on the properties before the start of the exemption from paying any rates.
Pelandaba house arrears have been cleared whilst a payment plan has been entered into for Matsheumhlope museum.
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