Tinaani Nyabereka

MIDLANDS-Gweru District Development Coordinator (DDC), Tarisai Mudadigwa has urged the newly sworn in Gweru City councilors to work towards positive legacy in their 5 year term of office.
Speaking after the swearing in ceremony last week, Mudadigwa said he was happy to see a youthful group of councilors coming in.
“Strive to leave a legacy, a legacy in the history of Gweru City Council. A legacy characterized by hard work, honesty, and dedication to duty. You know the background we have, issues of water, street lights, illegal vending.
“You are the new hoes coming in, and we expect you to have an impact and I am very happy to see a youthful group of councilors.
“We felt as a Ministry that it was necessary to equip the new Councilors who are coming into the new system of local governance. The local government system is dynamic, it changes especially under the devolution mantra,” he said.
Mudadigwa however reminded the new Councilors on their mandate to serve the people saying they are the ones who determine how long they will stay in council.
“Councilors, the secret to remain where you are sitting is to serve the electorate, the electorate are our bosses. As a government, we say we want servant leadership.
“Maintain an open door policy to the people who elected you. When you return from council give feedback to the people who sent you,” he said.
A ward 13 resident, Lameck Sateko also spoke on the need for council to uphold engagement for development to move.
“The newly elected Councilors should change Gweru, they should not do what has been happening but come up with different ideas and know that they were elected by the people. Whatever they get from council they should bring it back to the people, whatever decision they want to make they should consult residents first.
“On water, what pains us is that water is there but we get too many excuses, electricity this and that; they should try by all means so that we can at least say when Councilor so and so came in they did this so that residents see the benefit of electing them,” said Sateko.
The councilors are set to go for their first phase of induction on September 21 and 22.

…lobbies his clansmen to start hunting for Chadzamira’s replacement

Beverly Bizeki

MASVINGO – Chief Fortune Charumbira is probably a bitter man who is fighting too many battles from the region where he is battling to be in-charge of the Pan African Parliament to local politics where he is fighting the incumbent legislator for Masvingo West Ezra Chadzamira.
Since his alleged sex scandal story early this year, Chief Charumbira has been facing challenges and his recent undiplomatic utterances against the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo Chadzamira is probably a sign that the ‘centre no longer holds’.
The embattled Pan African President who is being pushed out by one of his vice presidents on various allegations including corruption, publicly announced while addressing his subjects in Ward 12 that he will fight Chadzamira and see to it that he did not retain the Masvingo West Constituency seat come 2028.
Charumbira then immediately lobbied his clansmen to start hunting for someone who can replace Chadzamira.
“I know the issue about the MP (Chadzamira) that you are not happy about. He has too many issues which I’m sure you don’t know but I know them and I am going to expose him in the not so distant future. Of all the MPS who have been here like the late Mudhenge (Stan) and Mavhaire (Dzikamai), they never addressed meetings in my absence but this one (Chadzamira) did that and you never bothered to ask him why? You should have asked him why he was addressing his rallies in my absence,” said Charumbira.
“He (Chadzamira) fought me and I’m going to fight back – that’s who I am. I am a hard nut to crack; I want to finish him – let us plan and find someone among our people to replace Chadzamira.
“Don’t tell me that we cannot find one of our own here in Wards 12, 11 or 9. If you fail to get one then I will put an advert in the press saying we are looking for someone willing to become our MP because we do not have one,” Charumbira added.
He further claimed while addressing his subjects that he even told President Emmerson Mnangagwa about the rift between him and Chadzamira.
“Even the President knows this; I told him that I don’t get along with him (Chadzamira) because of the way he does his things,” Charumbira said.
There are allegations that Zanu PF lost Wards 11 and 12 because Charumbira campaigned against Chadzamira whom he publicly announced that he doesn’t like. However, during his address Charumbira shifted the blame to Chadzamira saying people voted for CCC because they did not want the MP. He said it was fine that villagers did not vote for Chadzamira but hastened to say they should have voted for the councilor.
“However you made a mistake for not voting for councilor Mapara, why didn’t you vote for him? He is a good person you were supposed to vote for him. The MP (Chadzamira) is solely responsible for our loss here,” said Charumbira.
He also took time explaining the fights at PAP as well as justifying his decision to becoming vice president of the chiefs’ council.
“In the national election, I declined the position of president because I am always busy due to my other work commitments. I seconded my vice to be president and I decided to settle for the position of deputy because I have other posts including parliament and PAP. The most important thing is I retained my seat in the chiefs’ council and in parliament,” said Charumbira.
Contacted for comment Chadzamira, who was reappointed Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, said election time was over and was happy with the people of Masvingo for voting peacefully.
He said he respects traditional leaders and it was their right to have different views but whats important was working together.
“I want to that the people of Masvingo for voting peacefully and now that election time is over, we have to work together for development and to achieve the President’s vision 2030.
“I respect traditional leaders very much and it is their right to have different opinions and views but what is important is for people to unite and work together. I encourage everyone to put hands on the deck to work for development whilst respecting traditional leaders and their views,” said Chadzamira.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Zanu PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) political parties are readying their councilors who will battle for the Town Council chairperson post, with a lot of scheming underway as the two parties have equal number of councilors.
Out of the eight wards in the local authority, CCC won five and Zanu PF got three. However, Zanu PF managed to equalize with two more who got in through women’s quota after CCC failed to file nominations.
Just like in 2018, Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson selection process where the MDC Alliance got more votes whilst they were fewer than Zanu PF councilors, this year’s selection process is going to be equally interesting.
Zanu PF is alleged to have deployed its provincial top brass to Chiredzi to make sure that the elected councilors toe the line to avoid the 2018 scenario where MDC won the post with few councilors, a development which nearly cost some councilors their seats after being alleged to have voted in favor of the opposition.
Provincial Chairperson, Robson Mavhenyengwa and Politburo Member, Lovemore Matuke descended on Chiredzi to put the house to order ahead of the elections set for Tuesday September 19.
Liberty Macharaga and Jameson Charumbira were alleged to be main contenders before the visit which is said to have resolved to second Vimbai Ushe, who was elected through the women quota system in order to solve the impasse.
“It was going to be disaster as both Macharaga and Charumbira were vying for the post. In order to avert the 2018 situation, the party’s big wigs had to intervene and resolve to second Vimbai Ushe for the post,” said a source who refused to be named.
Vimbai Ushe was allegedly handpicked for the women quota position by Francis Moyo, together with his wife’s sister, Sekai Njanjure when he was trying to build his empire in the town.
On the other side, Roger Chikonye, Danford Chikanyau and Gift Chigidi are said to be eyeing the post.
Sources however, said Chikonye, who was Finance committee Chairperson in the previous council stood a better chance for the post as he is more senior and well versed with issues that needed immediate attention.
In an interview with former Vice chairperson who is now Chiredzi Central Member of Parliament Ropafadzo Makumire, he said the party always has its position regarding who should be chair.
“The party will have its position and the councilors will be made aware of who should be voted for the position,” said Makumire.
For Chiredzi Rural District Council, Aspect Mashingaidze seems to be the most influential and preferred candidate, with the new comer Wellington Mudzimiri trying his luck as well.
Vice Chairperson of the previous council, Leonard Makondo is also vying for the post with Chiredzi South legislator Joey Sithole having his back.
In 2018, out of eight wards, Zanu PF won four seats, Ward 2,4,5 and 8 whilst MDC Alliance got three, wards 1,6 and 7 with the remaining being won by an independent candidate.