ZANU-PF Councillor Accused Of Running Beerhall From Unfinished Clinic

A ZANU-PF councillor in Gutu, Masvingo, has been accused of using a newly built council clinic as a beerhall.

Thandavanu Simbanegavi allegedly turned the incomplete Mupasimba Clinic in Ward 22, Gutu Central, into a personal beerhall where she sold alcohol.

The clinic was built using resources from the Gutu Rural District Council and contributions from villagers.

Locals provided bricks, pit and river sand, and labour, while the council supplied roofing material, cement, and window and door frames.

Villagers told the Masvingo Mirror they were angered that, after helping to construct the clinic, Simbanegavi moved in and began selling liquor from the facility.

They claim the beerhall opened in the morning and operated into the early hours of the next day.

Simbanegavi denied the allegations. She said she had only taken a fridge to the clinic when it was used for an outreach function attended by Minister of State for Security Lovemore Matuke and Gutu Central MP Winston Chitando. She accused her political opponents of fabricating the story to tarnish her image.

Gutu RDC Chief Executive Officer Alexander Mtembwa said he had not received reports of the clinic being used as a beerhall.

He confirmed that Mupasimba Clinic was built by villagers with support from the local authority and is likely to open before the end of 2027.

However, former Ward 22 councillor Bickson Muzenda alleged that Simbanegavi ran a beerhall from the clinic for almost a year.

He said she only stopped after a public outcry, including reports lodged with council offices.

Muzenda said he first moved the motion to build the clinic in 2010.

“In 2010, I moved a motion seeking approval for the construction of the clinic, and this was endorsed by all councillors. The clinic was pegged and built,” said Muzenda.

He added that the project had since attracted controversy, with the facility reportedly converted into a bar.

“Villagers later saw the clinic being used as a beerhall and this pained the community. The clinic worked as a beerhall for one year,” he said.

Muzenda said his heart bled because the clinic had not been operational since 2022, yet villagers were still walking 15km to reach the nearest health facilities.

“There is no clinic in the ward. The one that was here was moved to another ward after a delimitation exercise. People are walking 15km to the nearest clinics in other wards,” he said.

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