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Johnsias Mutonhori, Midlands Correspondent
GWERU residents have applauded the conferment of Freedom of the City status on President Mnangagwa on Friday for his contribution to the development of the city and the country at large describing it as a befitting honour.
The event marked the 7th edition of a similar honour to a prominent person for meritorious service, in the City of Gweru, where the last conferment was in 1992 when former President Robert Mugabe was granted a similar status.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director, Mr Cornilias Selipiwe said the conferment of Freedom of the City on President Mnangagwa was long overdue and signifies a new path of a healthy working relationship between the council and Central Government.
“I think we really need to applaud our Mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi and the entire council for coming up with such an initiative. It is a historic thing in our lifetime that I have never witnessed before until yesterday,” he said.
Mr Selipiwe said the unity that was shown by the Gweru City Council (GCC) to confer President Mnangagwa with the status has a significant effect on the development of the city through collaborative efforts of the local authority working with Central Government.
“What we are celebrating is the coming up of our councillors to then confer Freedom of the City on the Head of the State. It really unlocks a lot of opportunities and strengthens the relationship between Central Government and the local authority that is led by the opposition. Generally, it is a good move and we are awaiting to see a fruitful and collaborative relationship between the Government and Gweru City Council.”
Mr Selipiwe suggested that unity and peace should also prevail during this year’s harmonised elections.
“I think unity displayed during the event is what we want as citizens. We need peace, unity and tranquillity in our country. This was a good gesture because the opposition-led council has demonstrated the desire to put politics aside and recognise President Mnangagwa for the work he has done in fostering development not only in Gweru but in the country as a whole,” he said.
He applauded the atmosphere of unity of purpose that prevailed.
“All the dignitaries who came for that programme were very professional in the sense that there was no sloganeering and it was clear that it was apolitical.”
He said they were hoping to see an improvement in service delivery cascading from a good working relationship where there was respect and recognition. Provincial chairman of the Zimbabwe National Organization of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART), Mr Reward Mhuri also applauded the conferment of Freedom of the City on the Head of State.
“We are gratified with the conferment of Freedom of the City on President Mnangagwa on Friday and I am very positive that it is going to bear fruits in terms of better service delivery such as water and refuse collection. We also want to appreciate very much the remarks of President Mnangagwa to the city council that it must be residents oriented. He also said the city council must consult residents regularly not just for budgets or during budget formulation when it wants to collect money but in almost everything.”
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