MUTARE- ZANU PF legislator for Chikanga-Dangamvura, Esau Mupfumi has blasted Mutare City Council of stalling progress in the city by politicizing urban development issues.
Addressing the public at the official unveiling of an 18 metres foot-bridge in Mutare, Mupfumi said municipal management should separate politics and development.
“Let’s stop being negative to our government and all play our part in development, especially local authorities must act without political interference when it comes to issues of ratepayers.
“Some of our councilors who are mainly MDC T influence the municipality to look into trivial matters at the expense of real issues that are affecting people on the ground. City council is being ruled by the enemy, being MDC, which has no intentions whatsoever of developing our communities.
“They don’t want development but enquire from their erstwhile funders on how to make you suffer so that you can up rise against your legitimate government,” he said.
Mupfumi said the bridge would provide relief to hundreds of residents, particularly students who were forced to use longer and dangerous routes to school after the sewerage pipe used for crossing burst last year.
He said the previously used makeshift bridge was also not safe for use by residents.
“To begin with there was no bridge linking Dangamvura and Chikanga and people were crossing over a sewerage pipe that was washed away last year and it became even more risky for residents to cross. We were reliably informed that mainly children attending schools had been highly affected,” he said.
The 18 metre long foot bridge, constructed to the tune of $6 700 by Gideons Engineers, will serve at least 1500 households in three adjoining suburbs Hobhouse, Dangamvura and Chikanga and is expected to last 25 years.
