THE Chinhoyi Mayoral election, which were held on September 14, has seen Owen
Charuza being elected Mayor.
Charuza is from THE CCC political party and is the current councillor for Ward 6.
Charuza won after contesting with Ward 11 Councilor Voster Mashevedzanwa of Zanu
PF, who got only four votes against Charuza’s 16 votes.
Chipo Mlotshwa of CCC, Ward 14 retained her seat as Deputy Mayor by 16 votes, after
contesting with Magrene Chidarikire a Zanu PF Women’s quota member, who polled
four votes only.
After being elected and sworn-in before the Town Clerk, Maxwell Kaitano, the Deputy
Mayor thanked the other councillors who cast their votes in her favour and promised to
work together as one family to make sure development of the town is attained despite
political differences.
The newly elected Mayor, who is taking over from former mayor, Garikai Dendera,
promised to focus on improving service delivery in Chinhoyi through working together as
a team and delivering city status by 2028.
“I would like to thank you with so much for entrusting me with so much trust that you
had. Together as a team we can deliver.
“That can only be possible if we execute our roles and duties in the five-year term
without emotions but with true faith, transparency, dedication and consultative way. We
would like to make sure that, as a team moving forward, Chinhoyi, will not only be
looking at councillors as those that can deliver because there is a very thin line between
policy-making and policy implementation.
“The two parties working together and on either way, both parties should take blame
when the other part fails. So, let’s take this opportunity to find each other, embrace
without emotion. Through engagement and vigorous consultations, we will deliver and
we will try correct any short comings that we have as council,” said incoming Mayor.
Charuza went on to thank the previous teams for the work they did in transforming
Chinhoyi to where it is now and promised to continue as a team with the good work.

“I would like to thank the previous council before us because they played a much
bigger role because we were once a town management board and now we are a town,
all that we fight for is to attain city status by 2028.
“As Chinhoyi council we would like to engage seriously with residents to make sure that
we put ourselves below them and as the elected members of the community and
council management, those are our employers and we need to serve them without fear
or favour.
“This is a council that will not know colour, race or tribe. Let us break the barriers, bridge
the gaps between the community leadership and tap into intelligent skills that are in
abundance and together, with residents and the citizens, we can make it,” said Charuza
Twenty Councillors were sworn in last Thursday at Council Chambers and took their
oath of the office before the Town Clerk.