BY GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA
CHIREDZI school heads and Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) snubbed the national clean-up campaign held at Banana Market on Friday last week.
Of the 32 councillors, only three attended the clean-up exercise led by Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira.
The rest of the councillors failed to turn up at the campaign and also at a devolution meeting that was held at Chitsanga Hall.
Planning services executive officer, Takudzwa Chimanya, who stood in for Chiredzi RDC chief executive officer (CEO), Isaac Matsilele during the devolution meeting, apologised for his boss’ absence saying he and council chairperson, Edward Matsilele, were in Harare on official business.
Despite his apology, this did not go down well with Chadzamira who immediately summoned the RDC CEO and councillors to his office to explain their absence.
“I am disappointed with these councillors as well as the school heads who failed to turn up at such a big event — a national event for that matter. I heard there are 181 schools in Chiredzi district, but less than five attended this event,” he said.
“I should repeat, I am so disappointed. I want the CEO from the RDC and all the absent councillors at my office on Monday (yesterday) morning without fail to explain why they decided not to attend the national event,” Chadzamira said.
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District Schools Inspector (DSI), Petronella Nyangwe said school heads failed to attend because communication was done late on Thursday.
“I am yet to receive a report from the one who represented me at the event on how many school heads attended. I am, however, sure that the communication was made a bit late.
“I am sure those who were supposed to travel failed to make it because of late communication. We only communicated with them late on Thursday afternoon,” Nyangwe said.
Zanu PF provincial spokesperson, Ronald Ndava, said the minister had every right to be disappointed by Chiredzi RDC CEO’s absence because it is not the first time that he has failed to attend the minister’s functions.
“The minister has every reason to be angry because this is the fourth time that Matsilele has failed to attend the minister’s programmes. It’s almost certain that the move is deliberate. For example, the Chiredzi clean-up was announced last month in Masvingo.
“There was room to reschedule any commitment. The fact that he chose to prioritise his meeting elsewhere shows that his absence was intentional,” said Ndava. Both council CEO and chairperson could not be reached for comment.
