Masvingo mayor faces baptism of fire

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MASVINGO’S newly-elected mayor Hubert Fidze faces a daunting task ahead as he takes over a city battling a $2,5 million debt and a disgruntled workforce.

MASVINGO’S newly-elected mayor Hubert Fidze faces a daunting task ahead as he takes over a city battling a $2,5 million debt and a disgruntled workforce.

Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent

Fidze of MDC-T said he was ready for the challenge when he took over the hot seat on Monday and residents were quick to give him their wish list.

“There were many projects that were left by the previous councillors without reaching completion,” Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers’ Association chairperson Anotidaishe Muguti said.

“There is for example the negotiated power line to avoid power cuts so that water pumping continues and avoid water cuts as well as avoiding sewer spilling into the nearby Mucheke River during power outages. That needs attention,” he added.

Muguti said the new councillors should facilitate regular feedback meetings with ratepayers, something that the previous administration hardly did.

“They have to have regular meetings with ratepayers,” he said.

“Council should also channel 70% of its capital budget to service delivery while 30% should be for salaries.”

Masvingo has been facing a serious cashflow challenge sparked by the scrapping of outstanding bills by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo in the run-up to the harmonised elections on July 31.

Chombo ordered all local authorities countrywide to scrap all debts for residents dating back to 2009.

This has had a toll on the embattled Masvingo City Council, which saw three quarters of its fleet impounded by the deputy sheriff over debts last year.

Council has resorted to hiring vehicles from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department for service delivery.

Fidze would also have to motivate workers who have gone for more than three months without salaries, among a myriad of challenges.

Council has been lagging behind in payment of salaries since dollarisation in 2009.