Town Clerk urges Bulawayo residents to shift from election mode

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
BULAWAYO Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube has said people should not continue to be in election mode but must shift their focus to developing the city while working with elected councillors.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Mr Dube said residents should partner council in promoting the city’s developmental agenda. He said council employees are non-political and serve all residents without discriminating on race, gender and class.

Mr Dube said residents should work closely with their councillors instead of politicising developmental issues.

“Why should we continue to be in the election mode? It’s time we push for development. A councillor might be elected on a ticket that you don’t like but if s/he is a councillor we should know that they a councillor for a ward not a party,” said Mr Dube.

The Town Clerk urged residents to pay bills saying it will be impossible for the municipality to deliver services when residents are not playing their part. Mr Dube dismissed unsubstantiated claims that he was corrupt.

The Affirmative Action Group has in the past accused Mr Dube among other officials of being corrupt, claims that have been dismissed as false.

The Town Clerk said no investor would pour resources into an institution headed by an alleged corrupt leader.

“We do all we can to sell ourselves that as Bulawayo we are ready for business but as residents we don’t have a culture of promoting our city. Others would be busy throwing stones at our work. If you check the media, it is reporting unsubstantiated corruption claims about me as the Town Clerk of Bulawayo, yet we would be saying we want investment,” he said.

“Who would invest in the city when the Town Clerk is accused of being corrupt? All they say is Dube is corrupt. If I’m not wanted as the city’s Town Clerk I will not serve even one hour if residents no longer want me. I’m not saying I want to quit my job. I love my job but I’m saying I deserve respect as the city’s Town Clerk, stop going around insulting me for things that I haven’t done.”-@nqotshili