Kennedy Murwira
MPANDAWANA – Residents of the new town of Mpandawana last week handed over a petition to council demanding that the new parking by-laws be shelved until proper consultations are made with members of the general public.
Gutu United Residents and Ratepayers Association (GURRA) chairman, Lloyd Mufudze, said they had collected in excess of 100 signatures which were handed over to Gutu Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Mtembwa.
“We now await the response from council but our query is that no consultations were done with members of the general public prior to the decision to copy Gokwe’s parking by-laws.
“We expect councillors, as representatives of the people, to consult with the electorate before voting on such important issues. In this regard, we have asked the council to shelve plans to adopt these by-laws until such consultation has been carried out,” said Mufudze.
Mufudze added that while the Gokwe parking by-laws were clear on applicable areas, the case was altogether different in Mpandawana.
“Gutu is a vast populous district and the council has jurisdiction over the whole district. It is not clear where these by-laws will be applied.
“If it had been the new Mpandawana Town Board, which to date remains a committee of council, which had made such recommendations then we would know that only the new town is affected. As it right now, there is ambiguity so the new by-laws could be seen to be targeted at all and sundry throughout the district,” he said.
Mufudze said that as a residents association they were not happy that the parent ministry which awarded Mpandawana town status has not yet gazetted the new status leaving the new Town Board at the mercy of the rural council.
“Some of the decisions which they make do not affect the general populace in Gutu but are specifically directed at Mpandawana residents. As such the Town Board should have the power to make decisions concerning the town without making reference to the council,” said Mufudze.
New Town Board Chairman, Councillor Gabriel Mapepa, said he still had to see the petition while Mtembwa could not be reached for comment on the issue.news
