GWERU — Hamutendi Kombayi is determined to follow in his late maverick father Patrick Kombayi’s footsteps if his dramatic election as Gweru mayor last week is anything to go by.
STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
The elder Kombayi made history at independence in 1980 when he became Gweru’s first black mayor on a Zanu PF ticket.
He was a colourful politician who ruffled feathers both in Zanu PF and MDC-T where he was known to abandon the party line whenever he saw injustice.
His son, Hamutendi, was on Monday picked as the City of Progress’ new mayor despite an order by MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai that councillors were to elect Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions paralegal officer Charles Chikozho.
Hamutendi, a ward one councillor, garnered 12 votes against Chikozho’s six and he will be deputised by ward seven councillor, Artwell Matyorauta.
Despite the controversy surrounding his election, the new mayor has hit the ground running, not wasting time settling into the new job. On Friday he officiated at the Gweru Polytechnic graduation ceremony.
Hamutendi told Southern Eye his first priority would be to ensure the municipality’s workforce was productive.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Most of Gweru workers, especially in the lower grades, are an idle lot,” he said.
“The human resources department has to make sure that there is retraining of workers so that they know their mandate at council.
“Council is not for private business at the expense of ratepayers.
“My heart bleeds when people don’t work and expect to be paid.”
The Midlands Hotel managing director said addressing Gweru’s perennial water shortages would also be a priority during his five-year term.
He also wants to restore the city’s recreational facilities such as parks and ensure Gweru regains its status of being the cleanest cities in Zimbabwe.
Born on May 1 1977 at Lambeth, London, in the United Kingdom, Hamutendi went to Cecil John Rhodes Primary School and Gokomere High School for “O” Levels. He did “A” Levels at Chaplin High School.
The outspoken young Kombayi took over the business empire left by his father and says he was initiated into business when he got attached to the family-owned Midlands Hotel.
However, the young politician says he always had a dream to work in the mining sector and this saw him join Zimasco as an apprentice. Hamutendi obtained a blasting licence in 2000.
He is married to Loice Takawira and the couple has three children and are expecting a fourth one next year.
