…7 CCC councillors boycott event
Emmanuel Chitsika
Masvingo-Zanu PF on March 3, 2023 hijacked the official opening of Masvingo City Council (MCC) run and recently completed medical facility North West Medical Clinic which saw the ruling party’s Vice President and Second Secretary Kembo Mohadi turning up as the official guest.
The decision to have Mohadi as the guest-of-honour stood despite fierce protests by the majority of the local authority’s councillors, with seven Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors boycotting the event stating that they did not want Mohadi to officiate at the event as he was no longer a government official but was only invited on partisan grounds.
A source who was in the official briefing at the Civic Centre prior to the main event in Runyararo West suburb said Mohadi openly acknowledged receiving information of the boycott by the councillors who stood firmly against his invitation.
The source at Town House said the situation was so difficult as management could not decline Mohadi’s being invited and said the official opening was likely to be repeated.
“The situation was so difficult and there was no way council management could turn Mohadi down from coming to the event. Initially, council arrangement was that the clinic be officially opened at provincial level by Minister of State for Devolution and Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira but maybe the invited guest went on to invite his own guest as well and that is why Mohadi turned up. It was not as per council arrangement,” said the source.
CCC councillors including the Mayor Collen Maboke, councillors Selina Maridza, Alec Tabe, Rocky Kamuzonda, Daniel Mberikunashe, Richard Musekiwa and Babylon Beta all did not turn up to the event that saw Zanu PF bussing supporters from peri-urban areas and some from Mashava, Bhuka and other surrounding rural communities.
The aggrieved councillors on March 2 addressed a press conference on their decision to shun the official opening as they felt Mohadi was not the right candidate to do so.
Deputy Mayor Wellington Mahwende, Against Chiteme and Sengerayi Manyanga, all from Zanu PF were the only councillors who turned up for the event.
Mohadi at the health facility said the clinic was a product of devolution which he claimed was all from Zanu PF and its leadership.
“Budiriro yese inouya nani? Inouya nehurumende inotungamirirwa navaMnangagwa (Who is responsible for presiding over developmental projects? The government led by Mnangagwa is responsible).
“Nyika ino inotungamirirwa nevakomana vatatu nemudzimai mumwe chete (This country is led by three men and one lady and do you know them?( referring to Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputies Constantine Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi and Oppah Muchinguri). The four have brought about development and this clinic is part of it. May you please take good care of the facility for it now belongs to you and it serves you,” said Mohadi.
He had earlier officially led the routine monthly clean up exercise where he addressed scores of Zanu PF supporters at the Civic Centre emphasizing that ‘blood was shed’ for independence while the latter erupted into party songs and slogans.
“Blood was shed for the liberation of this country. Let me remind you that the country is going to have elections either in the first or second half of this year and we are looking forward to Zanu PF victory. Nyika ndeyeropa uye vatungamiriri varipo ndevamwe vakarasikirwa neupenyu (This country saw blood shed and the current leaders are among those who lost their lives during the liberation war).
“Zvinoita here kuti munhu asina kuvhima ouya paurawa mhuka achida kutora chiropa kana chirovadhibha pamhuka yaasina kuuraya (Is it possible for one to come and claim a share of the carcas’s liver or even brisket when he did not participate in its killing). Remember you promised us 5 million votes. We have chanted the slogan for quite some time, now we want it to happen practically
“Someone was talking about good roads and boreholes drilled and I told him that it is Zanu PF doing that work. If the MDC fails to run councils which are smaller as compared to the whole country, how then would they be able to rule the country,” added Mohadi.
The naming of the clinic has also been a subject of debate with Manyanga who chairs the Public Works Committee trying in vain on a number of occasions to name the clinic after national heroes or even the country’s President when he suggested it being named Hlupeko/Dambudzo (Mnangagwa’s second name).
The plaque for the official opening had Mohadi’s name already written suggesting the public works department could have been behind the move.
