adminchairman Mr Never Gasho — gathered in town from as early as 8am before moving to the council offices, where they blocked the main entrance.
The residents only reopened the main entrance after police intervention.
The residents demanded the immediate resignation of councillors and senior officials.
They handed over a petition with about 2 000 signatures to Hurungwe District administrator Ms Tsana Chirau.
“We have delivered a petition to the DA Ms Chirau for onward transmission to the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Dr Ignatius Chombo.
“The situation has gone out of hand and we think something needs to be done urgently. We cannot allow the council to plunder stands like this and to fail to deliver service,” he said.
Council workers locked themselves in their offices for the greater part of the day.
The residents were protesting against allocation of plots and commercial stands to councillors and council workers for prices as low as US$12.
Part of the petition reads: “The residents of Karoi do hereby sign a petition that the existing Karoi Town Council’s tenure be terminated, as a matter of urgency.
“Among the issues we are unhappy with is the looting of residential and commercial stands by councillors and some senior officials and poor service delivery characterised by poor refuse collection and non repair of roads.”
Karoi Town council secretary Mr Maxwell Kaitano refuted the allegations saying his management was doing everything above board.
“We have been going about our business as council in a transparent manner. I think if Mr Gasho had any issues with council he should have brought them to our attention for clarity’s sake.
“Otherwise there is nothing amiss about how councillors got their stands. Procedures were followed and where alteration had to be made on the basis of a ministerial
directive we have complied with,” he said.
By late yesterday afternoon, the residents were still camped at the offices vowing to sleep there until their demands have been met.
They slaughtered goats, cooked and intermittently had breaks for lunch and breakfast. The demonstration was sparked by a story published by The Herald that councillors and senior officials allocated themselves residential and commercial stands for as little as US$12, which the councillors admit, but insist, is above board.
The demonstration comes at a time when employees have given legal notice to go on strike over salary arrears.
Workers went on a strike last month before guarantees that they would be paid their dues were made.
leeroy
Online Reporter