…as he bars Chikonye and Musingashari from February 3 polls
By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Sengezo Tshabangu, the controversial Citizens Coalition for Change’s (CCC) interim Secretary General’s High Court order barring Roger Chikonye and Musingashari Musingashari from contesting in February by-elections has given Zanu PF’s Costain Mombe and Brighton Mahiya a free ticket into Chiredzi Town Council, thereby retaining ruling party’s dominance in the governance of Chiredzi Town.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZMC) recently declared Zanu PF’s Costain Mombe and Brighton Mahiya as Chiredzi Town Council Ward 6 and 7 councilors respectively following the High Court order.
“The public is hereby informed that following the High Court Order issued on the 19th of January 2024 under case No HCH 197/24, the nomination of the Citizens Coalition for Change party candidates specified in schedule 1 below who had been nominated for election in by-elections scheduled for the 3rd of February 2024 has been set aside,” wrote Utoile Silaigwana, ZEC’s Chief Elections Officer
Costain Mombe is a lucky man having gotten a free ticket to council chambers after being consecutively walloped by Musingashari Musingashari in 2018 and 2023 harmonized elections respectively.
The development strengthens Zanu PF’s position in council to make decisions favorable to them by virtue of having the majority.
Following the recall of the two late last year, the Zanu PF-dominated council went on to exponentially pass a resolution to give the outgoing Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson, Alderman Gibson Hwende a council vehicle which the former had refused citing that the council was not fit to dispose of a vehicle.
However, the move to dispose of the vehicle was criticised by Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHIRRA) saying council was not fit to do so as it was failing to attend to sewerage bursts in time due to shortage of vehicles.
“The vehicle which they covertly sold to the outgoing Gibson Hwende was registered under the pool vehicle as the council never budgeted for a Chairman’s vehicle during the last five years. During the 2024 budget consultations, all 8 wards advised the council not to sell the vehicle to the outgoing Chairperson and suggested he be given other forms of handshakes,” said Jonathan Muusha, CHIRRA Chairperson.
