The councilors initially decided to award Tsvangirai for being pivotal in bringing donor aid to the country. However, Mayor Tedious Chimombe told The Zimbabwean that the majority of the councilors had decided to stop Tsvangirai’s award because they realised political credit for doing so would go to Deputy Local Government Minister Sessil Zvidazai instead of them. “This will be used by Zvidzai to gain political mileage ahead of the next elections since he is the highest MDC-T official in the Local Government ministry,” said Chimombe.
Sources at Town House said the councilors had made a mistake in stopping the exercise because it was supposed to represent the gratitude of all Gweru people who benefited from the efforts of PM Tsvangirai.