Thabiso Nxumalo
Noise erupted during Masvingo newly elected councillors inauguration after Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa ordered Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters clad in party regalia to be chucked out of the hall at the Civic Centre on April 11.
Mukaratirwa sparked commotion when he ordered security to chuck out two people clad in CCC regalia out of the hall stating that it was against council policy, and he was met with resistance as the two claimed that he was turning a blind eye on ward six councillor Wellington Mahwende and ward 10’s Sengerai Manyanga who were putting on Zanu PF scarfs.
“This is not a political event and as such we do not allow party regalia here, security can you please show the lady in a CCC shirt and the man in a yellow beret out,” ordered Mukaratirwa.
Attendants mostly from CCC party protested against the order stating that two other councillors were in Zanu PF regalia and yet were not shown the exit door and saw the move as being selective hence bursting into party songs in protest.
In defence Cllr. Wellington Mahwende said that he was not in any party regalia as the scarf only symbolises the national flag and not any specific party.
“We definitely cannot talk about the yellow ties donned by the councillors but an outright party regalia like a CCC T-shirt is against council policy, this scarf is not a party regalia it is just a national symbol, the scarf just has Zimbabwean flag colours and it is not branded ZANU PF,” said Mahwende.
Mayor, Cllr Collen Maboke remedied the situation by saying that the public must be pardoned since it was the first time and prior information should have been given to the attendants.
“It is true we do not accept such dressing in these meetings and the public needs to know that and as such we can pardon this for now but please next time be warned,” cautioned Maboke.
CCC scooped all available urban councillor positions during the 26 March by-elections and hence this event was graced by party loyalists in support of their winning candidates.
The new councillors sworn in were Aleck Tabe (ward 4), Rocky Kamuzonda (ward 3), Daniel Mberikunashe (ward 5) and Richard Musekiwa (ward 7).
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