adminThe aspiring councillor, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, who is also the chairperson of the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association, reportedly sourced more than 10 tonnes of tar to repair pothole-infested roads in Mkoba suburb.
In an interview, Mr Selipiwe said he was saddened that the infighting for posts within the MDC-T dominated council was now compromising the city’s development.
He said the patching material he sourced was now gathering dust after the city fathers, led by the Mayor Councillor Tedious Chimombe, allegedly blocked his attempts to repair roads in Mkoba.
“It is very disappointing that the mayor who was supposed to rise above politics and support issues to do with developing his city was at the forefront to block my efforts to repair the roads,” said Mr Selipiwe.
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“I am now stranded with more than 10 tonnes of tar and other tar patching material after the councillors refused to give me the green light.”
Mr Selipiwe, who confirmed that he was eyeing Mkoba’s Ward 10, said some of the roads he wanted to repair were not in his ward.
“It’s true that I want to contest Mkoba’s Ward 10 under the MDC-T ticket but the move to repair the roads was not driven by politics. I am a resident and am aware of the deplorable state of the city’s roads. I remember one Harare man who conducted a one-man demonstration against potholes in Harare.
“Instead of conducting a solo demo, I decided to use my means and sourced the tar to address the problem, but to my surprise, the city fathers decided to safeguard their political interests ahead of developmental projects,” he said.
Mr Selipiwe said he would soon petition the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo, seeking permission to repair the roads.
“I have written to the provincial governor about the developments and if I don’t get a response, I will write to the minister himself seeking to carry out this project, which I believe is a noble cause done,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Clr Chimombe confirmed that the council blocked Mr Selipiwe from “furthering his political interests” through road repairs.
Clr Chimombe said the council had suggested that Mr Selipiwe hand over the donation to council for it to do the job.
Online Reporter