We’re stronger than before — Zanu-PF
ZANU-PF Midlands chairperson Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube has said the party is now stronger than before, as candidates have managed to bury the hatchet and find common ground ahead of the harmonised elections set for July 30.
In an interview last week, Cde Ncube said the date (July 30) came at the most opportune time when the party was at its strongest and raring to go.
“We welcome the date set by the President and we are geared for the election as a province,” he said. “We actually thought it would be around 21 or 22, but we were given one more week to spruce up our preparations.”
Refuse collection budget chokes council THE cash-strapped Gweru City Council has said it is spending more money on hiring private vehicles to collect refuse, which is not sustainable.
Gweru city council town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said they resorted to hiring private refuse trucks as the council’s eight refuse compacters were all obsolete and non-functional.
“We have a challenge in terms of refuse collection and we have resorted to hiring private trucks, which we pay $9 500 per every 40 hours of service,” she said.
“All the eight refuse compacters, which were used to have are currently down and obsolete as some of the compacters had served the council for over 20 years.”
Ms Gwatipedza said they realised that the situation was not sustainable, but they had no option.
“While outsourcing is not sustainable, there is nothing we can do until we purchase our own equipment,” she said. “We cannot stop collecting refuse as that would pose more challenges and a health hazard to the communities”
Ms Gwatipedza said the local authority had so far procured a new refuse compacter, but the supplier had not yet delivered it.
Meanwhile, Gweru city council is set to relocate KwaMutasa dumpsite in Woodlands Park due to the development of an urban housing development.
Cde Mackenzie Ncube said differences that emanated during primaries were now water under the bridge saying if anything, they made the party stronger than before.
“Our Midlands team is a united one and we assure you of a landslide victory in the province where the President hails from,” said Cde Mackenzie Ncube.
He urged candidates to dump the business as usual approach and embark on serious campaigning.
“As Midlands, we are expected to shine and lead by example as everyone would be watching us closely as the province where the President hails form,” said Cde Mackenzie Ncube. “So, I urge all our candidates to up their game. I should, however,
Zvishavane begins road rehabilitation ROAD resealing has started in Zvishavane after the local authority contracted Bitumen World Construction Company to do the work.
This follows termination of a road sealing and resealing contract it had awarded to Madz Contractors over poor performance. Madz contractors spent 14 months doing nothing after being awarded the tender on May 26, last year. Zvishavane town secretary, Mr Tinoda Mukutu, confirmed the development.
“Road resurfacing has started in Mandava and Makusha high density areas following the awarding of the tender to Bitumen World Construction Company,” said Mukutu.
“They will be tarring major roads in Mandava and Maglass while other gravel roads will be surfaced. Our road network in the high density areas was in a bad state.” Mr Mukutu said high density roads were a priority because most of these were damaged by the heavy rains that fell at the beginning of the year.
“Most roads in oldest suburbs have outlived their lifespan and major rehabilitation work is required,” he said.
Mr Mukutu said they are yet to receive more funds for the road rehabilitation programme from ZINARA.
“We are supposed to receive $714 000 from ZINARA, but we have so far only received $265 000, which was used to spruce up roads in the central business district,” he said. hasten to say we are, however, not under any pressure.”
Meanwhile, party provincial spokesperson Cde Cornelous Mpereri urged candidates to set aside their differences, shun the ‘bhora musango’ idea and start driving the revolutionary party’s primary agenda of winning the harmonised elections.
Cde Mpereri said this while addressing party supporters during the party’s Kwekwe Inter-District Meeting held at the party headquarters last week.
He said candidates should bury the hatchet and do away with the ‘bhora musango’ that some losing primary election candidates might be plotting against each other.
“What happened during the primaries is now a thing of the past,” he said. “Let us unite and work together for the party’s cause. Remember no one is bigger than the party.”
Cde Mpereri said Kwekwe Central legislator Masango Matambanadzo and war veteran provincial executive member Isabel Kurasha had been fired from the party due to their allegiance to New Patriotic Front.