The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
RUSAPE Town Council Ward 4 representative Clr Elizabeth Chidza has refuted allegations raised against her last week arguing that they were meant to tarnish her image and good standing as a woman in politics. Clr Chidza said she was not part of the RTC delegation that attended the Zimbabwe International Trade (ZITF) in April.
She also dismissed allegations that she politicises aid and employment opportunities in town, arguing that the latter was a prerogative of council management.
Clr Chidza said she was part of those who recently boycotted the 342nd full council meeting in protest of deteriorating service delivery and low staff morale, among other operational issues that the council management was not taking seriously.
“Service delivery is an operational issue that falls in the armpit of council management, not councillors. We are the policy makers and we have demanded to know why management is not implementing full council resolutions. Councillors recently met management and demanded to know why roads were not being repaired, electricity was cut off at Jack Needham water works due to non-payment and why there is erratic distribution of water in the town and the refuse collection schedule was not being adhered to.
“I never attended the ZITF in April and there is also no Cyclone Idai funeral I was made aware of in the ward. These allegations are malicious and meant to tarnish my image and good standing as a female politician. I respect elderly people, and at no point was I approached by the said elderly woman. Let me make it very clear that as councillors we do not have a mandate to employ people, it is the duty of council management.”
She denied being a thief, dishonest person or ex convict.
“For record, Godfrey Mufuranhewe, who raised these allegations against us contested and lost in Ward One, making him an interested party. There are no ex-convicts in council, and Mufuranhewe is the one who was convicted of stealing a cellphone from a motor vehicle and was sentenced to perform community service at a local school. Operating a taxi business does not mean one cannot be a councillor. Why does he mock other people’s livelihoods,” said Clr Chidza.
Makoni Central MP Mr David Tekeshe also dismissed politicising assistance and job opportunities in the town.
Mr Tekeshe said he has been using his personal resources to assist the elderly and bereaved families in the constituency. He also said he had helped in the upkeep of inmates at the Makoni Old People’s Home.
