Tsamaya village white elephant finds tenant
A rehabilitation centre in Tsamaya village dating back 21 years will finally be leased out to potential tenants if information reaching The Midweek Sun from North East District council is anything to go by.
The centre which was constructed in 1994 during the late Chapson Jabavu Butale’s era as area Member of Parliament (MP) has never been used since its construction. It has been a source of frustration for villagers who had expected it to help them rehabilitate the mentally challenged residents.
The rehabilitation centre was meant to assimilate physically challenged people from villages such as Tsamaya, Siviya, Mabidzane, Jackalas No. 2, Themashanga and Tshesebe.
Caiphus Gabana the chief public relations officer at North East District Council (NEDC) admitted in an interview with The Midweek Sun that the 21 year old white elephant was advertised for rental after it was noticed that its initial intended purpose will never be realised. “I can confirm that after our advertisement a tenant has been sourced to utilise the facility but I cannot reveal his identity at this juncture,” Gabana explained.
Power kuswani a former Village Development Committee member in Tsamaya village is lost for words following the decision by the NEDC to lease out the facility to private companies. “The sad part about this facility is that it has never benefited us as it has never been operational since its construction in 1994. Just two years back when I was still a member of the VDC, we made a proposal for the house inside the facility to be given to public servants in the village who had problems with accommodation. The two public servants included a pharmacist and a nurse,” he explained.
He revealed that following their request from the council, the dwelling house was then renovated only for it to remain in that condition until today. Kuswani is wondering why the council has taken the decision to lease out the facility without informing villagers who were expecting a lot from the facility. “As we speak, we have over ten people living with disability in Tsamaya village alone and these are only those I have personally seen with my eyes.
If our village has more than ten then it means that other surrounding villagers have overwhelming numbers of people living with disability. The plot the facility is seating on is roughly more than four hectares a clear sign that it has gobbled land which could have benefited other villagers who are in need of land. Moreover, there is danger inside the facility as it has big snakes which poses danger to villagers,” Kuswani warned.
He added that since its construction, millions of taxpayers’ money has been spent on security fees as various security companies have changed hands each year even though there is nothing of value to be stolen from the facility. Meanwhile, a security guard manning the building reiterated Kuswani’s claim of very big snakes inside the facility which might pose danger to those who will be given the building for rental.
This publication can also confirm the presence of large snakes which were spotted during the photographing of the building. The new chief of Tsamaya village Zenzo Letsholathebe is in the dark about the building. He was not aware of it and even its location as he was not familiarised with the village when he took over power from his late father last year. “The chief has never been familiarised with the village and he is not in a position to comment,” Kuswani revealed.