Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- Council on October 24, 2022 elected ward 9 councillor Edison Kurebgaseka as the new deputy mayor in an election conducted during a special council meeting to replace recalled Cleopas Shiri.
Kuregbaseka an MDC-Alliance councillor got eight votes against councillor Jefta Zvidzai of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) with four.
However, two other councillors Godfrey Giwa and former Mayor Josiah Makombe of CCC reportedly did not attend the meeting.
Speaking during an interview after the exercise, Kurebgaseka did not hide his joy over the elevation to the post.
“Thank you so much for the congratulatory message, we are still waiting for a day of confirmation,” he said.
In a congratulatory message, Acting Gweru Town Clerk Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe wished Kurebgaseka all the best in the new challenge.
“His Worship the Mayor of Gweru Hamutendi Kombayi, councillors, and management, I would like to congratulate ward 9 Councillor Edison Kurebgaseka for being elected City of Gweru Deputy Mayor.
“We wish him well on his tenure as City of Gweru Deputy Mayor,” read the message.
Kurebgaseka’s elevation comes a week after three councillors including former deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri of ward 5 were recalled by MDC -T Party for politicking among other issues.
The other two councillors, Martin Chivhoko (ward 4), and John Manyundwa (ward 18) were recalled by party leader Douglas Mwonzora allegedly for being loyal to CCC leader Nelson Chamisa while some sources report it was because of the refusal to award President Emmerson Mnangagwa the Freedom of City Status (Gweru) in August 2022.
Shiri is reported to have been under the spotlight after refusing to let Kurebgaseka being elected Deputy Mayor.
The three were some of the CCC councillors who survived Mwonzora’s wielding axe when the former Mayor Makombe of Ward 2 who was recalled last year.
