Councillors call for speedy resolution on prepaid streetlights

Diana Nherera recently in CHITUNGWIZA

CHITUNGWIZA councillors have expressed concern over delays in the filing of their case against the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company’s decision to put all tower lights in the town on pre-paid meters.

Councillors told a 498th Ordinary Council meeting last Friday that lawyers needed to speed up the filing of the case as residents were being attacked at night because of non-functional street lights.

Ward 20 Councillor Beaven Murada said a council worker was attacked, injured and had to seek treatment due to non-functional street lights.

“There’s need for speed,” he said.

Ward 10 Councillor Peter Matiringe said all tower lights in his ward were not working. Ward 15 Clr Tawanda Dawa said the situation was also dire in Ward 14.

The same was said for wards 6 and 11. Acting chamber secretary Memory Mpukuta told the full council that Mbidzo Muchadehama are the lawyers handling the case.

“We have done what we were tasked to do,” she said.

The councilors however argued that they needed to meet with the lawyers so that they realise the urgency of the matter.

The councillors said there was need for timelines for the case. Mayor Councillor Rosaria Mangoma asked town clerk Mr Japson Nemuseso to engage the lawyers. She also told the meeting that she would also follow up on the matter.

She urged Mr Nemuseso to ensure councillors without transport were ferried home for their safety.