Political Reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Bulawayo Nketa Ward 24 councillor, Arnold Batirai is at loggerheads with his landlady, Abigail Ncube after he failed to settle five months rental arrears.

A source who spoke to this publication said that Batirai owed Ncube US$600.00 and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) a total of ZWL440 500 in unpaid bills.

“Batirai owes his landlady, Ncube US$600.00. He has been promising to settle the arrears but has failed to do so for five months now. Instead of negotiating with the landlady for a payment plan, Batirai has been threatening Ncube telling her that he was untouchable,” said the source.

The source added that Batirai has been staying at Ncube’s place since 2018 and he was supposed to be paying water and other bills to BCC. However, Batirai has not been paying these bills lying to Ncube that as a councillor, he was exempted from paying the bills until the amount accrued to over ZWL440 500.

The source said that Batirai was given an eviction order by Ncube that has since expired on 19 October 2022. However, Batirai is adamant that he will not vacate the place claiming that as a councillor, he has the right to stay wherever he wants.

According the source, Ncube reported Batirai to Nketa Residents Association chairperson, Wingle Nhliziyo but the CCC councillor continue to refuse to pay rental arrears or vacate Ncube’s place.

“Ncube once reported Batirai to Nhliziyo but that failed to yield positive results as Batirai threatened Nhliziyo that he would be removed as Nketa Residents Association chairperson if he continue to meddle in his affairs. Batirai is a bully and if he can do this as an opposition councillor, what more will he do in the event that they become the ruling party? He is not a good example of a leader,” said the source.

The source said that Ncube further reported the case to the police but was not assisted as the police claimed that the case could only be solved through the civil court.

Efforts to get a comment from Batirai were futile as his mobile phone was not reachable