The brewery was commercialised during the tenure of the Japhet Ndabeni Ncube-run council, when the city fathers gave up their controlling stake in it and established a board to run its affairs. This decision was reached after the brewery was facing serious viability problems, recording major losses and facing near collapse.
However, residents have called upon the city fathers to reverse its decision and take over the running of the brewery as it was a major cash cow which could assist in the
development of the city.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson, Winos Dube, said the decision to privatise Ingwebu was a mistake which needed correction. If our city fathers are serious about development they should urgently revisit this decision of privatising Ingwebu, said Dube. For the council to prosper in future, Dube said there was a need for it to invest in the right things rather than rely on rate payers and money from donors.
He said the council should move from a state where they simply waited for funds, to a place where they could raise their own funds. As Bulawayo residents we have been adamant that the council should learn to invest, which would see them being able to raise their own funds and fulfilling most of their pending projects. It becomes worrying when council projects are stalled because they dont have the money, said Dube.
According to the chairperson, Ingwebu could be a key investment project which the council could easily exploit. However, the Bulawayo Mayor Councillor, Thaba Moyo, said the issue had to be investigated through the proper channels.
The decision involving the privatisation of Ingwebu was reached by the previous council. We must revisit the initial objectives that were set, if they have not been fulfilled then we can probably reconsider the decision, said Moyo.
Post published in: News