Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
CHINHOYI Municipality Zanu PF councillor, Cde Magrene Chidarikire, has been elected Deputy Mayor for the council.
She is the daughter of Cde Faber Chidarikire, who served as Chinhoyi executive mayor and Mashonaland West provincial governor.
Cllr Chidarikire, a Proportional Representation Zanu PF councillor, replaced CCC Cllr Chipo Mlotshwa who was expelled from council after being arrested for fraud.
Mlotshwa is a former Ward 14 councillor.
Cde Chidarikire contested against Ward 11’s Cllr Voster Mashevedzanwa (Zanu PF) and won by 12 votes against 8.
In her acceptance speech, Cllr Chidarikire said as Deputy Mayor, she was committed to supporting the Mayor and Council in strengthening institutional accountability, restoring public confidence and ensuring that council resolutions were not just recorded, but implemented.
“I accept this responsibility with full awareness that leadership is not about titles, but about service,” she said. “It is about accountability. It is about delivering results to the residents who expect better roads, reliable water, clean streets, sound financial management and transparent governance.”
Cllr Chidarikire noted that Chinhoyi residents deserved effective leadership.
Chinhoyi Municipality has faced various challenges, including governance gaps, revenue leakages, service delivery concerns and trust deficits.
Cllr Chidarikire encouraged youths and the girl child to be involved in governance as leadership was “not reserved for a select few, but earned through courage, preparation and commitment.
“When women rise into leadership, communities benefit from inclusive, balanced and decisive governance,” she said. “Let this moment affirm that your ambitions are valid and your voice matters.”
