adminThe outburst comes amid revelations that Ward Two Councillor, Holly Nzuda is embroiled in a vending stall ownership wrangle with a vendor, Ms Mtheliso Msoja, at Kudzanayi Long Distance bus terminus.
Ms Msoja recently caused a scene at the busy long distance bus terminus after she undressed and relieved herself at the vending stall in a dispute following a clash with Clr Nzuda.
Clr Nzuda reportedly used her influence in council to evict Ms Msoja from the disputed vending stall before allocating it to her relative, a development that resulted in Ms Msoja relieving herself at the vending stall as a way of protest.
Ms Msoja has been using the vending stall in question since 2008.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers’ Association chairman Cornelius Selipiwe said the latest incident involving Clr Nzuda and Ms Msoja was not the first time councillors clashed with residents over the ownership of vending stalls.
“It did not come as a surprise when Ms Msoja went to the extent of relieving herself in public as she fought to take control of the vending stall which Clr Nzuda was determined to have allocated to her known relative.
This kind of corruption by councillors is rampant in Gweru and we have a number of them who have taken away vending stalls in Gweru CBD from the poor residents and given them to their relatives,” he said.
Mr Selipiwe said corruption at the Town House had gone out of hand with the city fathers at the forefront.
“It seems there is no one to control this situation, as everyone at the Town House is involved. When Clr Nzuda evicted Ms Msoja from her vending stall and replaced her with her relative, no one voiced on the matter because they all know that their hands are dirty,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Clr Nzuda who confirmed that her relative was the owner of the vending stall in dispute, said she only assisted by approaching the council’s housing department to have the matter resolved.
“Ms Msoja had no licence for that vending stall and what I only did was to advise the housing department to address the issue. There is no corruption in doing that and councillors do not have the power to allocate vending stalls. Council by-laws are clear.
“Ms Msoja does not have the licence for the vending stall in question and she should apply for the licence. To my understanding the housing department has addressed the issue and Ms Msoja has been allocated another vending stall after she applied for a licence,” she said.
Online Reporter