Civic society cries foul over award recipients

Freedom of the City.
The MDC-T dominated council sparked controversy when it short-listed PM Tsvangirai, his deputy Thokozani Khupe and Water Resources Management and Development Minister Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo for the prestigious award.

Outraged residents said they were against the proposal saying PM Tsvangirai and his party had done nothing for the city.

Residents have suggested names of sport, arts, and humanitarian personalities who they said deserved the award.

Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution, a grouping of different youth groups in Bulawayo held a press conference on Tuesday evening where they called for the inclusion of the public in the process.
In separate interviews yesterday, residents’ leaders said the Freedom of the City award had been politicised.

“Even if residents do not know much about the award, the honour should be given to someone who has given outstanding contribution to education, health, art, politics or sport,” said Mr Winos Dube, the chairperson of the Bulawayo Residents Association.

“We should be looking at someone whose contribution left a legacy to benefit even future generations. The short listed individuals could be seniors in their party but they have done nothing to deserve the recognition that goes with the granting of the Freedom of the City.”

He suggested people such as Mr Cont Mhlanga who he said had put Bulawayo on the world map through art when he started Amakhosi Cultural Centre, the Ndlovu brothers, Peter, the late Adam and Madinda who have contributed a lot to the development of soccer locally and internationally.

“We have people we cannot name now who have done a lot for the city and deserve the honour. Some people have come up with children’s and old people’s homes and such people deserve the honour,” he said.

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The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) co-ordinator, Mr Roderick Fayayo, said the selection process should not be a preserve of a few individuals in politics.

“As an association we have always said all stakeholders should be consulted. It is not for us to say those people who were short listed fall short of the required qualities but what we want is to involve everybody.

“There are a lot of people that have worked hard for the city and it is only when we consult widely that we can get the people that deserve to be honoured. I do not think there is anyone who can doubt Peter Ndlovu’s contribution to the development of soccer locally and internationally,” said Mr Fayayo.

Addressing journalists at the Press conference, Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution spokesperson Mr Mqondisi Moyo said the councillors’ suggestions showed that they did not consult widely before short listing individuals for the Freedom of the City award.

“There are many people who deserve the award like the Ndlovu brothers and the councillors can only know them when they consult all stakeholders that include the civic groups and residents,” said Mr Moyo.

The award is reserved for individuals who have used their own initiative or resources to make a positive difference to the city and its residents.

On Tuesday Bulawayo councillors distanced themselves from the Freedom of the City award fiasco, saying it was an unprocedural and a scandalous decision taken by only seven councillors. Some councillors also proposed that Professor Phineas Makhurane whose efforts led to the establishment of the National University of Science and Technology should be among the recipients of the prestigious award.