Fanyana Shumba writes for ZimEye narratig the sudden fate of Parklands Shopping Centre

Jobs are hanging in a balance in Bulawayo after a up-market shopping complex was suddenly and without warning closed down after the council refused to supply the place with water.
The Bulawayo city council has been accused of making businesses closing down, creating unemployment and also going against the spirit of Christmas by shutting down Parklands shopping centre, which is owned by ZESA.
At a time when elsewhere shops are throbbing with Christmas shoppers who are buying groceries and gifts for Christmas, but Parklands shopping centre, is silent, empty of cars. All the businesses have closed doors and no customers have been seen anywhere near there. The supermarket was Tuesday found to be open but there were only (4)four or (5)five customers standing beside silent tills and the employees folding their hands, relaxing with nothing to do.

One would think that the MDC run council would want to help businesses, but they appear to be pushing the businesses in this shopping centre to close down. Christmas is the busiest time of the year with shops having more turnover than any other time of the year, but on Tuesday, 2nd December, Parklands shops were empty.
I spoke to the security guards and they informed me that three men in Bulawayo city council uniforms had approached them and commanded them to close the booms going into the centre. I observed several late model expensive cars attempting to get into the centre but being refused and going elsewhere.
I asked if they were given a paper explaining the authority by which they were commanded to prevent access to the centre, but it was only word of mouth.
Apparently the council has cut off the water supplies to the centre. Due consequential concerns of hygiene council then closed the centre.
Yet the council has been ordered by the courts not to cut off water from any one without a specific court order. It appears that they are going aginst a court order, therefore in contempt of court ….. and in contempt of the people of Khumalo and Parklands suburbs in Bulawayo