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NewsDay

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Deputy mayor threatens to resign over invasions

Politics
Zanu PF has allegedly stepped up its invasions of council property around the city and dishing out municipal land within Greater Harare in a development that has frustrated Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto so much he has threatened to resign. Chiroto said Zanu PF had literally taken over his constituency of Hatfield where they had set […]

Zanu PF has allegedly stepped up its invasions of council property around the city and dishing out municipal land within Greater Harare in a development that has frustrated Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto so much he has threatened to resign.

Chiroto said Zanu PF had literally taken over his constituency of Hatfield where they had set up a political camp, thereby emasculating him.

Another councillor, Friday Muleya, said he had also been overwhelmed in his Mbare ward where he had been chased out of a residents’ meeting by Zanu PF youths last week.

Said Chiroto: “Zanu PF is building a base in my ward and it’s almost complete. The losing councillor is giving people land including home industries. I would rather resign as deputy mayor of this city.”

Muleya said he was in a similar predicament. “I had to run for dear life from Zanu PF youths who disrupted a meeting and prevented me from meeting residents at Mai Musodzi Hall.

“They (Zanu PF) have taken over Carter House (a council property in Mbare meant to benefit travellers in transit) yet we do nothing about it,” said Muleya.

Councillor Peter Mudavanhu (Ward 8) also complained about alleged invasion of Ballantyne Park where business tycoon Phillip Chiyangwa is making developments allegedly without council authority.

Zanu PF has been invading council properties saying they were reclaiming what rightly belonged to them.

Last year, the party invaded flea markets and chased perceived MDC-T supporters.

The youths also have taken over a council project and invaded an open space in Mbare where the city fathers were planning to erect Mupedzanhamo Phase Two project.

However, Zanu PF youth chairman for Harare province Jim Kunaka denied the allegations.

“To hell with them (MDC-T officials),” he said. “Since they were elected into council, they haven’t brought about any development in their wards.

They are only evicting Zanu PF people from markets and we will not sit back and relax. If you are elected to represent people and you fail like what they have done, it’s better to resign,” he said.