Zivhu hits out at politicians

Politics
CONTROVERSIAL leader of the Zimbabwe Cross-border Traders Association and chairperson of the Chivi Rural District Council Killer Zivhu has accused “selfish politicians” of stalling most rural projects.

CONTROVERSIAL leader of the Zimbabwe Cross-border Traders Association and chairperson of the Chivi Rural District Council Killer Zivhu has accused “selfish politicians” of stalling most rural projects.

Staff Reporter Speaking at an RDC meeting attended by well over 25 councillors, Zivhu said it was imperative for council to spearhead development programmes regardless of interested parties’ backgrounds.

“Some politicians are obstructing local donors and the development of the constituency accusing them of being from the other parties or harbouring political interests,” he said.

“This will only serve to reverse council’s development initiatives and shortchange people in the community, we must work together.”

Chivi, a perennially-dry district relies on food handouts and this year the situation was exacerbated by the incessant rains that reportedly washed away most crops with some villagers displaced by the flooding Tokwe-Mukosi Dam.

“We as council have not been able to timeously respond to the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster because we don’t have the capacity financially,” Zivhu said.

“Beginning this month onwards, we want to raise $2 million from our own projects, the donor community and even well -wishers from Chivi and around the country.”

Businesspeople in the district have also called for the formation of a development trust that will ensure that ordinary people accrue benefits from the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam as well as the community share scheme under Murowa Diamonds.

Council has been struggling to raise money with revenue only emanating from shops which are also struggling to remain viable.

Gororo Clinic was built by the community and donors, but owing to lack of equipment, the building is now a white elephant as people in the community continue to walk long distances for medical treatment elsewhere.

Zivhu said council would prioritise development of infrastructure such as dips, school, roads, boreholes and health centres.