Harare wards to have new councillors

Some Harare wards that have been without councillors for the past few months will by the end of this weekend have new councillors to represent them after by-elections to replace opposition councillors and Members of Parliament recalled following a rift in the CCC.

Suburban Reporter

CCC secretary general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu recalled several MPs and councillors countrywide last year and by-elections are being held to replace the former representatives. This weekend on Saturday February 3, another round of the by-elections will be conducted to replace more councillors and MPs.

In Harare, Wards 16 and 41 in Harare West Constituency will be among those under the focus as voters troop to the polling stations to elect new councillors following the recalls of Mr Denford Ngadziore and former deputy mayor Mrs Kudzai Kadzombe.

Former Harare Mayor Mr Ian Makone and Ward 5 Councillor Samuel Gwenzi were also among the recalled councillors.

But the two who sought nomination for re-election under the CCC have been barred from contesting this weekend’s by-election after Mr Tshabangu won a court action to oust them from the vote. This means the Zanu PF duo of Councillor Rufaro Matsika and Councillor Abdurrahman Sapa are the duly elected councillors for Ward 18 and Ward 5 respectively as they won the wards uncontested.

Mrs Kadzombe and Mr Ngadziore said they are standing as independents because they fear that if they contest as CCC they will be recalled again.

“It was an option. We know what happened before.  We also don’t agree with the High Court judgment to bar CCC MPs like what they did. But because we are from a citizens’ movement, we had to approach residents of our wards, we had to consult them. So we had to circulate a message in various WhatsApp groups. And it was unanimous by these residents that they don’t want any other party to represent them. If we stand as CCC, we are going to be recalled again because there’s a precedence from the High Court. They (residents) said for us to protect our vote, you should go via independent and we assure you we are going to support you.

““So if you go through all Ward 16 (residents) WhatsApp groups, you can see that that is what the residents said. That’s why we took that decision. It was not our decision but the people’s decision,” the two said in a joint statement.

In Ward 16 Mr Ngadziore is facing stiff competition from Cde Arnold Mhembere of Zanu PF who has been busy campaigning in the ward.

The ruling party candidate has undertaken a number of clean-up campaigns and facilitated the drilling of boreholes in the water to provide water to residents.

Cde Mhembere says he is the right person to represent the ward in council as he is well networked in the community, Government and corporate sector.

In his campaign he has been saying he can bring change to Ward 16 through his ability and array of networks.

Cde Mhembere says he is able to bridge between the community and strategic stakeholders who include central Government, the business community, the church and opinion leaders.

He said he was born and bred in the ward making him the suitable candidate for councillor.

“My geographical awareness of Ward 16 is based on being born and bred in the ward therefore having a rich background,” said Cde Mhembere.

He said he will be a servant leader who will promote community programmes and give the community more voice in development.

“Ward 16 inovakwa nevene vayo (Ward 16 will be built by its own residents). I shall be the voice of sanity in bringing back our lost community pride,” he said.

Cde Mhembere pledged to be a hands-on leader who will ensure development programmes are obtained for community members first, who are the custodians of the ward.

In Ward 41 Cde Charles Clive Majengwa of Zanu PF will go into contest with Mrs Kadzombe.