05 April 2022
Vimbayi Mahachi
Jeremiah Harrison
The country’s By-elections have come and gone and yesterday eight Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winners were sworn into office in Council Chambers, Large City Hall in Bulawayo.
The 26 of March by-elections were conducted as per Constitution to fill vacant posts in 122 wards and 28 constituencies across the country, of which Bulawayo City had 8 wards to fill.
The vacant posts came about due to several councillors being recalled by the then MDC-T president Thokozani Khuphe as well as her predecessor Douglas Mwonzora.
Most of the councillors were re-nominated to run for the vacant council posts while three were completely new runners.
Bulawayo Mayor His Worship Solomon Mguni graced the ceremony.
The newly formed political party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa claimed most of these vacant seats nationwide as of these 70 seats for local government were won by Chamisa’s led party.
The newly elected councillors will see Bulawayo city council becoming a multi-party chamber.
His Worship Cllr Mguni in his speech explained the difference of the new click of councillors compared to those who have been elected in a long span of time.
“I am reminded that this is the first time we have a multi-party chamber for the last 20 years or so. Let me hasten to say that there is no majority, there is no minority because what we have are councillors of the City of Bulawayo,” Mguni said.
“We are given a mandate to serve our people. We call upon unity in the cockpit and we hope that the councillors who are here will also embrace each and every one of us,” said Mguni.
The Councillors Lillian Mlilo (ward 12), Edwin Ndlovu, Donaldson Mabuto (ward 9), Concillia Mlalazi (18) Christopher Dube, (ward 19) Earnest Rafemoyo (ward 21) and Mpumelelo Moyo (ward 26) took the oath of office in front of Town Clerk, Christopher Dube.
The city fathers, the Mayor and other Councillors congratulated and advised the newly elected councillors to work hand in hand with all the councillors in order to achieve the City’s vision 2024 regardless of the political differences.
The city of Bulawayo’s vision is to be smart and be a transformative city by the year 2024.
“Our mandate as the council is to serve the people of Bulawayo , councillors should go to their wards and serve”. added Mayor Mguni.
He went on to thank the who were caretakers of the vacant wards, such as ward 19 which covers some parts of Pumula South Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo was the caretaker of ward 18 and 19.
After the swearing in ceremony Zim GBC News spoke to some of the newly elected councillors to hear what they have for the people in their wards.
Mpumelelo Moyo the new councillor for ward 26 promised to tackle the issue of health facilities in Emganwini area which has been an a sore thumb for ages now.
Residents of Emganwini, a suburb located to the Southwestern part of Bulawayo CBD are travelling as far as Nketa suburb, some 10 km away to access the nearest clinic.
City Council run Nketa clinic just, like any other clinic in the city is characterized by long queues, as a result some patients fail to get medical attention.
He said “It touches me the most to see my people going as far as Nketa and Nkulumane for medical attention, as a leader I am going to address that issue and make sure that we building our own clinic in Emganwini.”
Cllr. Mpumelelo Moyo also promised to tackle the perennial challenges of water in the suburb.
Elsewhere in Old Pumula, Ward 19, there has been incessant sewage bursts and this poses threats on resident’s lives as there is a high possibility of outbreak of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
The burdens of this ward have been given to Councillor Christopher Dube, former member of Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association.
He said, “Once funds are allocated to us our ward is not going to remain the same. At the moment I can’t give you time frame but progress is going to be made in ward 19.”
Having won through the New Party Citizens Coalition for Change, will these concillors fulfil their promises or these are only empty promises just like the previous councillors who promised milk and honey but failed to deliver?
Zim GBC News
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