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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
WARD Four councillor Alderman Vincent Shangwa Masiiwa has been elected Redcliff Mayor while his Ward Five counterpart, Councillor Fortunate Makava came in as his deputy.
Ald Masiiwa replaces the late long serving Mayor Alderman Clayton Masiyatsva who died after a short illness last month. Ald Masiiwa was elected into council in 2013 and was now serving his third term as Deputy Mayor.
To land the top council political seat, Ald Masiiwa polled seven votes against four garnered by Clr Josephine Mutamangira of Zanu-PF. Clr Makawa, who is in her first term garnered eight votes against Clr Mutamangira’s three votes.
Following the death of Ald Masiyatsva, the opposition CCC remained dominant with eight councillors while Zanu-PF has three, all of whom found their way through proportional representation. In his acceptance speech, Ald Masiiwa said water provision remains top on their agenda.
“I thank fellow councillors for showing confidence in me and I remind them that the common goal of providing efficient service delivery remains the same. We should remain united so that we are able to deliver to the people of Redcliff because they want water from us. Water remains our number one goal because we cannot continue relying on Kwekwe for water provision,” he said.
Ald Masiiwa said refuse collection, roads rehabilitation and regularisation of water billing system also needed to be addressed. Town Clerk Mr Gilson Chakauya pledged total support to the council.
“This is a dawn of a new era indeed and we as management, pledge to continue working well with you just like we were doing under the late Mayor Masiyatsva. Our goal remains the same, that of improving livelihoods of the Redcliff community. I therefore beseech you to put divisions that might have been caused by these elections aside, be united and focus on improving livelihoods,” said Mr Chakauya.
He said by-elections for the vacant ward left by Ald Masiyatsva will be held soon. He also praised the council for electing a female Deputy Mayor, a first for the dormitory town.
Kwekwe District Development Coordinator Mr Fortune Mpungu also urged management and councillors to unite for development and better service to residents.
He reiterated the need for Redcliff Municipality to find a lasting solution to perennial water challenges that have been bedevilling the town for over a decade.
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