By Delicious Mathuthu
ZANU PF has urged Gweru residents to dump opposition candidates and vote the ruling party in the December 3 council by-elections, claiming only people with access to the executive deserve to run the city.
In an interview with 263Chat in Gweru, ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee Spokesperson Dzidzai Maride said his party is ready to reclaim the vacant council posts after recall of sitting councilors by the Douglas Mwonzora led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).
“We are more than ready; as the President is always saying, we are leaving no one and no place behind.
“As ZANU PF we have been working tirelessly to support all people in urban setups.
“At the same time, the opposition which has been in control of cities and our wards in towns, have been actually throwing spanners on our development.
“Now it will be good for the electorate to choose wisely, choose people who will actually work hand in hand or hand in glove with the President’s mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’,” Maride said.
He added that only ZANU PF Councilors can restore sanity and quality services.
“So if you put ZANU PF Councilors, we are going to see more in terms of service delivery, more in terms of roads and see more in terms of response to the needs of the people.
“Our resolution from the just ended congress, the 7th Congress, is about going back to accommodate all the people, work with the people and add value to the people.
“We want the people of Gweru in ward 4, 5 and 18 to vote wisely, to vote people who will give them value and ZANU PF gives people that value,” Maride said.
Responding to accusations by one of the opposition parties, the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC), that his party was working with the MDC-T, Maride did not deny the accusation saying ZANU PF is working with everyone, including the CCC as well.
“As ZANU PF we are working with almost everyone, including CCC.
Speaking on one of their candidates Gibson Chingwadza who is a former Gweru City Council (GCC) employee, Gibson Chingwadza being accused of embezzling US$300 000 in council funds, Maride said if elected into council, he will bring value as he is well versed with how council operates.
“Thats the advantage (being a former employee) of ward 4 people, thats the advantage of ZANU PF as we have technocrats.
“We have people who know the systems at City Council; he was an instrument to City Council and we are going to use him more in terms of service delivery and knowing management things, how to cooperate and relay the political side to the management systems and again to the electorate,” Maride said.
Seven candidates from three political parties will be battling for the three vacant Council posts.
The MDC-T however failed to field candidates citing lack of resources.
The seven candidates include Gibson Chingwadza from ZANU PF and Martin Chivhoko from CCC for ward 4, Kwanisai Mafa from ZANU PF, Leon Ndahwi from Emmanuel Party and Cleopas Shiri from CCC for ward 5, then Walter Makwalo from ZANU PF and John Manyundwa from CCC for ward 18.
