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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau
BATTLE lines in Gweru’s upcoming mayoral race have been drawn among CCC councillors amid strong interference from the party leadership which has a preferred candidate.
CCC won 18 Wards in the city during last month’s harmonised elections.
With the outgoing mayor Alderman Hamutendi Kombayi having lost in the elections together with a number of other councillors, the city looks forward to electing a new mayor.
Incoming councillors are Mercy Mangwanya (Ward 1), Faith Chuma (Ward 2), Aaron Mumvana (Ward 5), Lovemore Choto (Ward 6) and Marufu (Ward 7), Martin Chivhoko (Ward 4), Danny Ndava (Ward 14).
Others are Jackos Manyanga (Ward 8), Nyaradzo Madzikure (Ward 9), Admire Paradza (Ward 10), Kummirai Rutsvara (Ward 11), Augustine Mutusva (Ward 13), Munyaradzi Prosperity Chikwira (Ward 15), Phillimon Mawere (Ward 16), Norest Dzivakwe (Ward 17) and William Mazango (Ward 18).
Following its victory in the city, the CCC also contributed the bulk of the women’s quota councillors and these include Sipiwe Kundiona, Miriam Magaya, Ronah Masocha and Olivia Chakauya.
Zanu PF will have one representative Clr Fortunate Mlambo.
Councillors Chivhoko and Ndava are the two councillors who retained their seats from the 2018 to 2023 crop.
The others failed to come back as it was generally believed that they had presided over the collapse of service delivery in the city.
The city has been hit by erratic water supplies and non-collection of garbage among other challenges.
With the opposition having assumed office at the town house since the turn of the millennium, the opposition-led council has been clueless as their short-term solutions have failed to address service delivery challenges.
Ward 4 Councillor Chivhoko has been widely touted as a possible choice if the incoming councillors who make up the Electoral College are to have their way. However, this is unlikely as past mayors have been dictated by CCC president Mr Nelson Chamisa.
Former Mayor and now Gweru Urban legislator Dr Josiah Makombe, a senior member of the CCC in Gweru as well as Mkoba North legislator Mr Amos Chibaya, the CCC national organiser are expected to have a say in terms of the election of the city’s next mayor.
Clr Chivhoko faces stiff competition from CCC senator Mr Sesil Zvidzai’s wife Clr Girlie Zvidzai who won in Ward 3 and former mayor Tedious Chimombe of Ward 12.
The Zvidzai family is allegedly close to Mr Chamisa due to Mr Zvidzai’s seniority in the CCC party.
He once served as deputy minister of Local Government during the Inclusive Government.
Contacted for comment, Clr Chivhoko said they are waiting for the party directive.
Clr Zvidzai said it is the citizens who will decide on the best individual to occupy the Gweru mayoral seat when the time comes.
“It is not about the positions at the moment but the focus is on provisions of quality water, good roads and other services,” she said.
Clr Chimombe was not answering calls by the time of going to print.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayer Association (GRRA) director, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, urged CCC to conduct internal interviews to determine who the city’s next mayor becomes.
“CCC has to conduct interviews because I am advocating for the imposition of a candidate so that at the end of the day, we hold the party accountable. The challenge we might have is that those with money will end up winning even if they don’t have the qualities to be the mayor,” he said.
“If the party has an internal process or interview, then residents will be able to blame the party.”
Mr Selipiwe said it was unfortunate that the electorate just elected councillors because of a political party they belong to and not because of individual qualities.
“The current crop or the elected councillors we have are kind of prone to manipulation and if they are allowed to vote, they will vote with their stomachs and that is why I want CCC to impose a candidate,” he said.
“We want a kind of a mayor who will work closely with residents and the technocrats at the town house for the development of the city.”
City of Gweru spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the orientation date for the elected councillors hasn’t been set yet.
Online Reporter