Uproar over Tsvangirai in Bulawayo

premier the civic award, but observers described the move as a ploy by MDC-T councillors to boost their leader’s curriculum vitae ahead of elections expected this year.
Analysts said the move was calculated to enhance Mr Tsvangirai’s chances of winning the Matabeleland vote.

Director-general of Southern Stars Foundation, a Bulawayo-based organisation, Mr Khumbulani Malinga dismissed council’s move as a “cheap politicking stunt”.
“Much to our chagrin, this cheap politicking stunt is done at the expense of the revenue collected from us. At this point, the Foundation questions any positive contribution that the city council and the Prime Minister have done for this city. The only legacy from these city fathers is the ‘Big Flush’ phenomenon.”

Due to failure by council to provide adequate water, last September it ordered residents to do the “big flush,” a system where they would flush their toilets simultaneously at 7pm every day to clear clogged sewers.

Mr Malinga said the award was not befitting because Mr Tsvangirai impregnated Loretta Nyathi and dumbed her and her child here.
“His legacy is the closure of Security Mills, a textile company, fuelling factional politics and importing violence to Babourfields Stadium. He called Ndebeles termites in his “At The Deep End” autobiography. This is the man the city fathers want bestowed with the Freedom of the City of Bulawayo?” he queried.

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He said the move was political since the city fathers had refused to grant the same award to the late Vice President John Nkomo.
“We have swallowed too much of these insults from Bulawayo City Council and the Prime Minister. We are not willing to tolerate any more this continued onslaught.”
Political analyst Dr Charity Manyeruke said the timing of the award was suspicious.

“It is clear that some people have started campaigning for him (PM) but they are using the wrong methods. Councils are in place for service delivery, not to campaign for political parties.”

Dr Manyeruke said considering the chaos MDC-T had brought into most cities and towns, it was wrong to grant Mr Tsvangirai the status.
BCC had reportedly also proposed to grant the same status to Water Resources Management and Development Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, but he was allegedly dropped at the instigation of DPM Khupe who argued that he was too junior.

The councillors were reportedly divided on the proposal to drop Minister Nkomo’s name from the list and a compromise was reached that the minister would be granted the honour next year.
Observers say the councillors can either grant the late VP Nkomo the honour posthumously or leave it to be dealt with by the next council.