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Storm brews over Gweru donation

Politics
AN aspiring MDC-T councillor has accused the Gweru City Council of frustrating his efforts to donate material to repair the local authority’s roads.

AN aspiring MDC-T councillor has accused the Gweru City Council of frustrating his efforts to donate material to repair the local authority’s roads.

Report by Stephen Chadenga

Cornelia Selipiwe, who is eyeing Ward 10, said he had sourced 10 tonnes of tar, but councillors were taking their time to approve the donation.

Selipiwe, who is also Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) chairperson, said council had asked him to draft a letter before they could approve the project.

“I sourced 10 tonnes of tar from a donor (who requested anonymity) and three tonnes have already been delivered,” he told NewsDay. “At first I was given the go-ahead by council to repair roads in Ward 10 and Ward 8, but they changed goal posts and asked me to stop and apply first.”

Town clerk Daniel Matawu confirmed the development saying Selipiwe’s letter offering the donation had since been forwarded to council’s environment committee.

“The letter has been brought before the environment committee and awaits full council meeting for approval,” he said. “That is only when we can know the outcome.”

Selipiwe has in the past fought with councillors over poor service delivery and there is speculation that the delays in approving his donation were politically motivated.

Gweru mayor Tedious Chimombe said Selipiwe, who is also MDC-T provincial information and publicity officer, could not dictate terms to council on his donation.

“How can he want to put tar in Ward 10 where there are gravel roads? “Council is not refusing to take the tar, but we are saying he should bring it to us, we know where to put it,” Chimombe said.