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Ivan Zhakata

Ward 4 Councillor Michael Mataruka of CCC has been elected chairperson of Ruwa Local Board while Cllr Anna Sande also of CCC, will lead the Epworth Local Board for the next five years.

They will be deputised by women’s quota councillor Spakamile Mhlanga for Ruwa and councillor Nobody Makoni for Epworth.

The election process was supervised by Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province Mr Tafadzwa Muguti.

Both Epworth and Ruwa local boards have 12 councillors, each, two Zanu PF, 10 from the CCC with nine of the 12 representing wards and three from the women’s quota.

Speaking after the elections, Mr Muguti said he expected the new chairpersons and their deputies to work to the best of their abilities to enhance the livelihoods of the residents.

“It is my hope that you will serve the local boards and the nation of Zimbabwe diligently,” Mr Muguti said.

“We look forward to your best performance as you drive towards the improvement of the livelihoods in your towns. I encourage the newly elected councillors to take the dictates of the Urban Councils Act which in this forum we refer to as your bible and your guide to your operations.”

Mr Muguti said local authorities in Zimbabwe played an important role in promoting sound local governance.

Cllr Mataruka said he was ready to build a strong and united Ruwa with people who deliver on their commitment and get the job done.

“We are not a small town anymore as evidenced by our population and this comes with its own challenges which include provision of water, roads infrastructure, housing and employment among others,” he said.

“This calls for proper planning and we need to move and work collectively as a council to make sure that we provide adequate services as mandated. Let us all come together and participate in shaping the future we all want and together we can win.”

Cllr Mhlanga said she will make sure that water challenges among other service delivery issues were a thing of the past.

“Our major issue in Ruwa is water supply and we have this problem for a long time now. I hope that during this new term, we are going to fix the issue of water at the same time I am happy that Government is promoting gender equality as I got into the council through proportional representation,” she said.

Cllr Sande applauded Epworth residents for being champions of development and focused on the growth of their town.

“We as council are here to serve the residents and focusing on key issues among them provision of clean water, refuse collection and establishment of proper roads and we need to work together to achieve these goals,” she said.

Her deputy, Cllr Makoni echoed the same sentiments and said: “We have a lot of challenges which include provision of clean water, refuse collection and roads and that is what we need to prioritise.”