In an interview, Zvidzai said that Chombo and the fired MDC-T councillors were to blame for the continued ‘rot’ in Chitungwiza – where management recently bought top-of-the-range vehicles valued at more than $1 million at a time when the town has run dry, and when uncollected refuse piles up.
“Chitungwiza is being run by grabbers. The people are taking everything and the council is doing nothing because somehow they are benefiting,” said Zvidzai.
Even though 24 of the 23 councillors were elected on an MDC-T ticket, but the party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai fired them for corruption in 2009 after they grabbed stands.
“The MDC should not be associated in any way with the councillors in Chitungwiza. We fired them a long time ago because of corruption and the government has failed to do a follow-up. This only shows that Chombo has something to protect,” said Zvidzai.
Chombo is among the country’s top property owners. His riches, spanning local authorities and rural councils, were brought to light by The Zimbabwean, yet the government and even the parliamentarians have done nothing to check the super-rich minister.
Chitungwiza Mayor Chipiwo, who is adamant that he is still MDC despite the expulsion, could only offer a lame excuse. “At some local authorities some mayors have power but others don’t have,” he said.
Zvidzai, who is also the MDC-T Secretary for Local Government, said that under the laws of the country councillors elected by the people have power to deal with management and can fire council employees.
“The councillors in Chitungwiza should take full responsibility. They are to blame and if there were not benefiting from the rot then they should have fired the management,” he said.
Post published in: News