Former vice mayor, Govera, lost dismally to an MDC candidate but is clinging to a ceremonial chain-necklace traditionally worn by the mayor. She has vowed never to surrender the necklace.
Other Zanu (PF) councilors have refused to hand over official stamps used by commissioners of oaths. These include: Chisango, Matenga, Govera and Sabirika. The adamant Zanu (PF) officials are illegally operating as commissioners of oaths.
There are similar reports in Bindura of Zanu (PF) councilors refusing to cede power to MDC candidates under claims that March 29 elections were a non event.
A manager at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) recently denied MDC councilors access to maize grain at the depot. The manager, Simba Chigova, told the opposition councilors that grain stocks at the GMB were destined for the rural communities but, according to a depot employee, the GMB is allocating the grain to Zanu (PF) officials.
The former Zanu (PF) councilors are selling the grain on the black market or distributing it selectively to their followers. In denying the MDC grain the GMB are rendering the true councilors powerless in the eyes of the electorate.
In a bid to censor and monitor activities of MDC councilors, the minister of local government and town planning, Ignatius Chombo, has created three posts within the area and appointed Zanu (PF) losing candidates, Chimanikire, Govera and Coach as councilors.
Residents are anxious about the fate of Potifa Bakayimani, elected MDC councilor for ward 12, and Kinos Botera, MDC activist and ward organiser for Nyameni suburb. Bakayimani was abducted by suspected state secret agencies before the presidential run-off and Botera was kidnapped from his house in May; neither has been seen since.