Suburban
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
Residents have taken Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore to task over service delivery issues and the promises he made when he got elected.
Ward 16 covers Mabelreign, Ashdown Park, Sentosa, Cotswold Hills, Greencroft, Meyrick Park, Haig Park, St Andrew’s Park, Sunridge, Madokero, Bloomingdale, Maranatha, Matidoda, Lenana Park and Sanganai.
At the monthly clean up held recently at Ashdown Park Shopping Centre, ZANU PF Youth League Secretary for Administration for Tangwena 1 District, Cde Carrington Nyamukondiwa asked Cllr Ngadziore to pronounce his achievements from the list of his promises.
Cde Nyamukondiwa took Cllr Ngadziore to task over his promises which included include zebra crossings, a looming health hazard due to non-functional public toilets at Mabelreign Shopping Centre, failure to repair potholes and his “lack of presence when required”.
But Cllr Ngadziore did not answer all the questions as he seemed offended when asked about his lack of visibility in the ward.
“Last year when the mayor (for Harare) came for a meeting at Mabelreign District office, you promised residents that in five days’ time, you would have painted zebra crossings.
“Secondly, we have a public toilet that we know that it’s council’s responsibility but that toilet is non-functional and is also used by vendors.
“And right now, we have a cholera outbreak but nothing is being done, that’s exposing residents to a deadly disease.
“There was a heap of gravel put by council at the corner of Clavering and Harare Drive which motorists ended up driving on and was never used by council to patch potholes.
“Right now, the whole of Clavering is full of gravel stones.
“Should we as residents go and level that gravel?” said Cde Nyamukondiwa.
He said Cllr Ngadziore was hardly available to attend to service delivery issues.
“And why is it that Mr Councillor Sir when someone is looking for you, I remember there was a time when I was looking for you concerning a sewer burst at Cotswold Hills, you’re always driving councillor? You’re never on the ground. You say ‘I’m driving, I’m somewhere.’ Why don’t you show up for once so that we see that you mean what you say?”
Cllr Ngadziore said he has held meetings and done tours with residents.
“Our zebra crossings were supposed to be at St John’s along Lomagundi Road, ZRP Mabelreign, in Westlea at Pamusasa, robots at N. Richards then to widen the road at Lomagundi Road and Harare Drive.
“That was the resolution if you remember but I assure you after that meeting, within six months, you have seen progress that has taken place at Harare Drive and Lomagundi Road.
“Roads are being widened so that there is no traffic jam in the mornings and evenings.
“Secondly traffic lights that were causing accidents along Bulawayo Road at N. Richards were fixed.
“At Pamusasa in Westlea, many accidents take place there due to school children crossing and going to Westlea Primary School. There is now a zebra crossing put by council.
“What is now left are the zebra crossings at Haig Park, Mabelreign Police Station as if going to Alfred Beit Primary School and at St John’s,” he said
Cllr Ngadziore denied assertions that he was not visible in the ward or inaccessible to residents.
“It’s not true at all, I have been holding meetings not once. Before I came for this meeting, I met with residents from 7th and 8th (Avenues) who have not had electricity for two weeks and I went to Zesa.
“This is not the first time, so in terms of meetings, I have actually held more meetings than any other councillor in Harare. If people don’t decide to come to residents’ meetings, no problem.
“From here, I’m going to Meyrick Park, there is another problem that has arisen.”
However, a resident at the clean-up said the councillor could have achieved more during his term.
In response, Cllr Ngadziore said he achieved what he could in the short space of time he was in office. “I told you I was elected for five years but I only served less than one and a half years.
“I have told you for the current term, I have served less than one year yet there are things that I have achieved. Don’t turn this meeting into politics, if you want to turn this meeting into politics, I can do that.
“I know almost everyone who is here and by responding to your question, it’s tolerance.
“It’s because I’m your councillor and I’m tolerant,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
The residents said the clean-up campaign was not being politicised and the fact that they are ZANU PF members should not prevent them from asking pertinent questions.
Cllr Ngadziore asked to leave and said he would rejoin the meeting after the Meyrick Park meeting.
Some residents asked the councillor to give them his home address in case they want to meet him.
