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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
ZANU-PF Matabeleland South provincial co-ordinating committee has put on hold discussions on proposals to rename two streets in Gwanda town after President Mugabe and the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo.There was confusion on Sunday on the matter as it emerged that a councillor had approached Zanu-PF seeking its support on the proposal without the knowledge of mayor, Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu.
A letter which was said to have been written by Gwanda Town Council was read at the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Special Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting seeking the party’s support to rename two streets in honour of President Mugabe and the Late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Nkomo.
During a full council meeting last month, Gwanda Town Ward 9 Councillor Thulani Moyo moved a motion proposing the renaming of Soudan Street after President Mugabe and Mt Cazalet Street which leads towards Dr Nkomo’s home area, Kezi, after the late veteran nationalist.
When the proposal was tabled at Sunday’s provincial meeting, the provincial party’s treasurer Cde Edson Gumbo who is also Gwanda Central MP had reservations over the procedure that was followed.
“Is this letter from the council or it is coming from an individual councillor? We don’t want a proposal coming from an individual but we want them to come as the council,” said Cde Gumbo.
As a result, the party suspended making any decision on the proposal.
Politburo member Cde Kembo Mohadi, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs supported that the issue be put on hold saying there was a national committee responsible for renaming of streets.
“Usually, some of these names do not come from councils. The council does not guide the party but if the party wants to recommend, we can send that to the national streets committee’s chairman Dr Ignatius Chombo,” said Cde Mohadi.
In an interview, Gwanda Mayor Clr Ndlovu said council had not yet sought audience with Zanu-PF concerning the matter.
“As council, we are not aware that the issue has been taken to the party. It must have been taken there by an individual,” he said.
On the other hand, Clr Moyo defended his decision to seek the party’s audience on the matter saying
Zanu-PF’s national chairperson Ambassador Simon Khaya-Moyo was briefed about the issue last week.
He said the reason why the proposal was made to the party without the mayor’s knowledge, was because Clr Ndlovu was not around during the time.
derick.khumalo