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NewsDay

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MDC-T councillor in hot water over Grace road naming

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AN MDC-T councillor in Harare has reportedly landed himself in trouble with a group of Zanu PF youths, after he turned down a request to have one of the city roads named after First Lady Grace Mugabe

AN MDC-T councillor in Harare has reportedly landed himself in trouble with a group of Zanu PF youths, after he turned down a request to have one of the city roads named after First Lady Grace Mugabe (pictured).

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

The youths wanted Borrowdale Road named after the Zanu PF Women’s League secretary, in recognition of her “efforts in improving the well-being of children and implementation of ZimAsset”.

Zanu PF youths, operating under the banner Youth Against Poverty (YAP), have reportedly petitioned Ward 27 councillor Thomas Gomba to reconsider his decision, after the latter snubbed the request, saying Grace “has done nothing extraordinary” to deserve such honour.

Firts-lady-Grace-Mugabe-greets-the-crowd-as-she-arrives-at--Mutambara-Mission-yesterday-1

Two weeks ago, YAP wrote to Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni over the same matter.

Insiders said Manyenyeni then requested Gomba, who chairs the council’s environment committee, to handle the issue.

YAP leader Tererai Chakanyuka confirmed the issue yesterday, saying they had since written to Gomba demanding that “he withdraws his insults on the First Lady or else”.

“As YAP leader, I have written to Gomba to demand that he withdraws his insults. We think he insulted the First Lady and if he does not withdraw, we will take him to court,” Chakanyuka said.

YAP claimed, among other great national achievements, Grace had built an orphanage home in Mazowe and “has stood with the people of Zimbabwe in creation of self-employment”.

Council sources told NewsDay this week that Gomba’s snub had angered Grace.

But Gomba, yesterday, insisted he was merely implementing the law and according to regulations, only the President could have a road named after him, while he is still alive.

“Instead of trying to pick a fight, YAP should probably be concentrating on asking Parliament to amend the regulations, then we will implement,” Gomba said.

In the run-up to the ruling party’s congress last year, Zanu PF grabbed a council-owned open space adjacent to Rainbow Towers Hotel and Harare Magistrates’ Court and renamed it Robert Mugabe Square, with the main road leading into it named Dr Grace Mugabe Way.

The local authority later pulled down the signposts that had been erected to honour the First Family.