Zimpapers Logo

Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
CHIPINGE District Administrator Mr William Mashava has challenged newly sworn-in councillors to perform better than their predecessors.

Speaking last week after the swearing-in ceremony of eight councillors in the council boardroom, Mr Mashava said the new council should focus more on policy making than politics.

All the eight councillors who were sworn in are from the MDC Alliance.

Councillor Zivanai Nyakuchena was voted the town council chairperson, while Cllr Elijah Mugidho was elected deputy chair.

Town council secretary Mrs Susan Dube Malati presided over the swearing-in ceremony.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for these councillors, as they lead town council for the next five years,” she said. “We hope you will serve the council with distinction. Residents’ eyes are on you and expect you to surpass how the outgoing councillors performed.

“We urge you to serve the people and not just fatten your pockets at the expense of the general public. Councillors should be active in their wards and not spend time doing nothing at the offices. We are urging the newly sworn-in councillors to be punctual in everything they do.”

In his keynote address, Cllr Nyakuchena promised to unite the policy makers and council administrators.

“In many parts of the country, the relationship between policy makers and council administrators has been poor and retrogressive,” he said.

“This council is going to do everything in its power to ensure that there is separation of roles between council management and policy makers. It is our hope that they establish a mutually beneficial relationship to ultimately benefit our residents in the form of improved service delivery.

“We hope we can create policies that will not only motivate our staff but help retain the useful skills that we have and engender human capital development as a tonic for improved service delivery.”

Meanwhile, our Mashonaland East correspondent reports that the new mayor for Marondera Municipality, Cllr Chengetai Marova, has promised to ensure an efficient and satisfactory service delivery system during his tenure of office.

Speaking after being sworn-in at a ceremony officiated by Marondera District Administrator Mr Clemence Masawi in council chambers in Marondera last week, Cllr Marova of the MDC Alliance said he will not be in office to warm the mayoral seat, but to serve the residents.

“I promise to work tirelessly for the owners of this town – the ratepayers,” he said. “Those are the people who expect satisfactory services from us and I will deliver. I will hit the ground running.

“Ratepayers pay their hard-earned money for good service, so as council we must deliver.”

Cllr Marova said time for politics was over and councillors should now focus on developing Marondera.

“The time for politics is long gone, to my councillors who are assuming office today, focus is now on service delivery and development,” he said.

Cllr Marova urged councillors to work together regardless of political affiliation.

“We have one Zanu-PF councillor here and 11 are from the MDC Alliance,” he said. “We are not going to segregate our colleague from Zanu-PF. Yes, MDCA has the majority councillors, but that does not mean we will not work together peacefully to develop our town.

“Like I said, focus is now on development and service delivery, not on politics.”

Cllr Marova promised to work with all stakeholders to improve the town’s status.

He called on councillors to share ideas to contribute positively to the growth of Marondera.

Cllr Marova said he was new in office and will seek ideas and contributions from councillors, for the good of the town.

“I am new to this office and I don’t expect to work alone,” he said. “I will also seek advice and constructive ideas from my subordinates. But what I can assure the people of Marondera is that here in the chambers, it will not be business as usual, we will transform this town.”