Three Gweru councillors recalled

Gweru (New Ziana)- Gweru deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri and two other councillors – finance committee chairperson Martin Chivhoko, and health and housing committee chairperson John Manyundwa have been recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T.

The minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo has since declared the three wards, which the councillors represented, vacant.

The recalls pave way for by-elections in the three wards.

Gweru has a total of 18 wards.

In his letter to Gweru acting Town Clerk Vakai Chikwekwe, Minister Moyo said he had received a letter from the MDC-T stating that the three had been expelled from the party.

Shiri who confirmed receiving the letter and said he had been expecting the recall since January when former mayor Josiah Makombe was recalled.

“The writing has been on the horizon since the recall of Makombe and the subsequent election of (Hamutendi) Kombayi (as Gweru Mayor),” he said.

Shiri, who fingered Mayor Kombayi for engineering his recall, said a series of events that included meetings with MDC-T officials had resulted in his recall.

He vowed to continue working with people in his ward.

Chivhoko of Ward 4 confirmed receiving the letter of recall and said he was not fazed.

He took a swipe at MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora for sanctioning his “unfair recall”.

Chivhoko also pledged to continue working with people from his ward and hinted that he was a Citizens Coalition for Change member.

“I will be their representative, whether I am in council or not. I will knock the doors of council so that they get the necessary service delivery,” he said.

Manyundwa of ward 18, sang from the same hymn book saying he also knew he would be recalled due to his stance against what he termed “Kombayi’s abuse of office”.

Manyundwa said he was happy to be recalled as that vindicated him.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association executive director said the continued bickering within the opposition was affecting service delivery.

“Service delivery in the city has gone to the dogs because of bickering and political fissures that are now being clearly put in the open.

“Those recalled said their sin was opposing motions that were being tabled in council. What this means is no one is doing anything or performing for the fear of being recalled.

“I think we are not going anywhere. This political bickering and infighting between the two opposition political parties is not taking us anywhere because what suffers at the end of the day is service delivery,” he said.

New Ziana