MORE often when politicians fight for their turfs, it is the voters who are deprived of service delivery and the representation they deserve.
SouthernEye Editorial
This has been aptly demonstrated in Gweru where three tonnes of tar meant to repair the city’s roads went to waste after councillors took their time to approve the donation.
As we reported last week, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers’ Association chairperson Cornelia Selipiwe, who was eyeing Ward 9 in Mkoba on an MDC ticket had sourced the tar from donors.
However, outgoing councillors who viewed Selipiwe as a threat blocked the patching of potholes in Mkoba.
It was only after parliamentary and council posts were dissolved that management at Gweru City Council advised Selipiwe that he could bring in the tar.
But when council’s department of roads went to collect the tar where it was stored, they found the material had hardened because of exposure to weather and could not be used to patch potholes anymore.
We cannot agree more with Selipiwe that in this unfortunate incident politics had come in the way of development.
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The outgoing councillors as civil leaders were supposed to rise above politics and make decisions that were in the interests of Gweru and its residents.
It is common knowledge that over the years councils throughout the country have struggled to raise funds to repair roads that are in a bad state.
Gweru City Council in particular has been struggling to pay workers and to carry out its responsibilities in service delivery.
Selipiwe’s donation will no doubt have gone a long way in freeing council resources to other critical areas.
Our only consolation is that the scandalous behaviour by the councillors was exposed at the opportune time when the city is preparing to elect new city fathers on July 31.
Gweru residents must punish these selfish outgoing councillors by denying them their vote.
The former councillors lack strategic thinking and cannot be given another five year mandate if this city, which is crying out for development is to move forward.
Gweru deserves councillors who are not only concerned about their political survival, but people who also have a vision for the city.
The handling of the tar donation is a clear demonstration that the outgoing councillors lack those qualities.
