Prince Danda
GWERU – Residents have raised strong objections against the City of Gweru’s proposal to purchase a Ford ranger vehicle for town clerk, Elizabeth Gwatipedza.
The proposal comes a few months after another council resolution to spend a whopping US$38 000 on curtains for the executive’s new residence.
Residents, however, point to the council’s depleted revenue coffers and the city’s deplorable service delivery record as reasons for the need to avoid profligate spending.
Gweru Residents Forum director Charles Mazorodze described the move as misplaced due to the acute service delivery backlogs the city was grappling with.
“There is no justification whatsoever for spending money on non-service delivery issues while ignoring the deteriorating service delivery framework in this city,” Mazorodze said.
The council recently caused a storm after deciding to buy new expensive curtains and to make extensive renovations on the 20-roomed mayoral house in Kopje, Gweru, before Gwatipedza could move in.
Gweru Residents Association (GRA) chairperson Cornilious Seliphiwe added his voice, saying residents will not allow a cash-strapped local authority to spend outrageous amounts of money while failing to cater for the needs and rights of rate-payers.
City of Gweru mayor Charles Chikozho could neither deny nor confirm that there were plans to buy the expensive car for the town clerk but was quick to accuse the residents’ association of trying to incite a rate boycott.local
