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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
Sanyati Rural District Council Ward 18 councillor who was elected on a Citizens for Coalition Change (CCC) ticket has been accused of fanning divisions in the district.
The councillor, Kudzanai Murungweni is being accused of wanting to take over managerial roles.
Cllr Murungweni made headlines last week after alleging that the council had adopted a disputed 2025 budget without consulting all stakeholders, including residents, the business community, and some ward councillors.
Despite his accusations, some residents, business people and ward councillors confirmed that consultations were conducted where they aired their voices and views.
Mr Mirirai Mapfumo a businessman at ARDA Growth Point Sanyati, said he was optimistic that his contributions during budget consultations were taken into consideration.
“We had our budget consultations where the business people and residents shared their views,” he said.
“The approach is in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and place behind. We hope our views were considered,” Mr Mapfumo said.
Mrs Sibongile Bhebhe, who is from the same area, also shared her views and expectations during the consultations.
Other residents said they were included in the budget formulation making the 2025 budget for the people.
The consultations were also taken to the people of Marimari where Mr Mavelas Machingura among others gave their contributions.
Council chairperson, Cllr Stanford Chaombezvi said the councillor’s accusations were baseless.
“Budget consultations were conducted in all the wards for Sanyati RDC but there were only a few individuals at one of our townships Sanyati Growth Point who obstructed the budget consultation process upon the instigation of Councillor Murungweni whose motive is bent on advancing his political agenda,’ he said.
“Councillor Murungweni opposes almost every council development project and in certain instances, he wants to assume managerial functions, a scenario which creates conflicts between himself and council executives.”
He also claimed there was a review of the 2024 financials as stipulated in the guidelines.
A full council meeting also took place and endorsed the budget.
Councillor Murungweni was also accused of discouraging people from paying their due to council since August 2023, a claim he refuted.
“Out of 18 Wards in the district, only one has people who are against the budget and want it to be thrown away. Their rejection is based on political grounds because they are from the opposition party.
“This has affected the council’s revenue inflows, obviously the effect of such misdirected efforts is poor revenue inflows resulting in dwindling service delivery,” said Cllr Chaombezvi.
The council has been coming under fire from residents for its failure to send monthly bills and collect refuse from businesses and residential areas.
The council also confirmed its advanced plans to issue monthly electronic bills. The chairperson also said the council had included lower fees for people who want to occupy market stalls it built last year to attract occupants.
The stalls had remained vacant because of exorbitant rental fees. The councillor allegedly refused to go to the Chitepo School of Ideology for orientation that was attended by other councillors from urban and rural councils earlier this year.
Cllr Murungweni also refused to attend the training sanctioned by the Local Government and Public Works Ministry.
“He is bent oncausing confusion and all the claims are baseless. The councillor is anti-government as he refused to attend Chitepo School of Ideology which all the councillors from our council attended,” added Chaombezvi.
Councillor Kudzanai Murungweni however maintained that there was never a review of the current year’s financials as required under stipulated guidelines.
Online Reporter