By Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru-Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) councilors in Gweru are allegedly tussling for the mayoral position even though their party leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa had earlier on urged them to focus on the current election result discourse.
The opposition party won all the 18 local authority seats in the Midlands capital.
Chamisa, through his party deputy spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziva recently revealed that the opposition party is ready to relinquish all seats as a protest to force a fresh election.
The local authority elections ran concurrently with presidential and house of assembly elections.
With former mayor Hamutendi Kombayi having lost in the elections together with all Mwonzora led MDC politicians, the city looks forward to a new mayor. Ward 4 councilor Martin Chivhoko has been widely tipped as a possible choice if the incoming councilors who make up the Electoral College are to be sworn in. Chivhoko is one of only two CCC loyal councilors together with Danny Ndava of Ward 14 from the 2018 crop of councilors who did not defect to Douglas Monzora’s MDC party.
The two councilors managed to retain their seats in 2023 council election. The others failed to come back as it was generally believed that they had presided over the absolute collapse of service delivery in the city as provision of water went to its lowest ebb.
The steadfast and bold Chivhoko also received an affectionate pat on the back from his party leaders and members for standing tall against Kombayi for the mayor’s position after the recall of then mayor Josiah Makombe in December 2021 by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora. Chivhoko is said to be battling it out with former mayor Tedious Chimombe of Ward 12 and CCC senator Sesel Zvidzai’s wife Girlie who won in Ward 3 and.
Zvidzai is reportedly close to Chamisa due to his seniority in the party and the undisclosed role he is allegedly playing in the CCC party. Sesel Zvidai served as deputy minister of Local Government during the Inclusive Government.
Contacted for comment, Chivhoko said he would serve the people of Gweru diligently if chosen. Zvidzai said it is the citizens who will decide on the best individual to occupy the Gweru mayoral seat when the time comes. “It is not about the positions at the moment but focus is on provisions of quality water, good roads and other services,” she said.
Chimombe, the then member of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was fired together with other councilors in what the party said was a crackdown on graft within its ranks.
The then, party secretary for local government Sesel Zvidzai is on record saying that Chimombe and the other councilors were dismissed for “thieving around land and seriously amassing wealth.”
Several efforts to contact Chimombe were fruitless as his mobile phone was not answered by the time of going to post. Former Mayor, Makombe, one of the most senior member of the CCC in Midlands Province and Mkoba North MP, Amos Chibaya are reported to have huge influence on who to be the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Gweru.
Under such stiff competition, vote buying is imminent like what happened during the past when Kombayi came to the helm after allegedly bribing some councilors. Other incoming councillors are Mercy Mangwanya (Ward 1), Faith Chuma (Ward 2), Aaron Mumvana (Ward 5), Lovemore Choto (Ward 6) and Marufu (Ward 7). Others are Jackos Manyanga (Ward 8), Nyaradzo Madzikure (Ward 9), Admire Paradza (Ward 10), Kummirai Rutsvara (Ward 11), Augustine Mutusva (Ward 13), Munyaradzi Prosperity Chik- wira (Ward 15), Phillimon Mawere (Ward 16), Norest Dzivakwe (Ward 17) and William Mazango (Ward 18). Due to its overwhelming victory in the city, the CCC also contributes the bulk of the women quota councilors who include Sipiwe Kundio na, Miriam Magaya, Ronah Masocha and Olivia Chakauya. Zanu PF will have one representative Fortunate Mlambo.
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