Gwanda residents urged to vote for capable leaders

Tecla Ndlovu

The Gwanda Residents Association has called on residents to vote for capable councillors who will improve service delivery. 

Speaking to Community Podium Gwanda Residents Association representative Alice Masawi, said the current councillors have not done much to uplift residents’ livelihoods.

“They did not work at all. We did not see much improvement in our wards and there has been lack of transparency in council operations. We want the incoming council to have a transparent relationship with residents. We also implore residents to vote wisely so that we can have better service delivery,” said Masawi.

She emphasised the need for council to alert residents on programs of the local authority.

“There should also be feedback meetings in wards. Since we expect councillors to work for the improvement of our livelihoods, we must get to hear what they have achieved. If there are any budget consultations to be done, they should mobilise people on time. Now that elections are getting closer we need peace, we don’t want to see councillors intimidating people based on political differences, ” added Masawi. 

A Gwanda resident from Phakama surburb, Siphathisiwe Ndlovu said service delivery has been poor for a long time hence the need to vote for capable leaders who can positively transform the town.

“There is a lot which council has been failing to do and part of its failure has been the inability to collect garbage for several weeks. This has forced residents to dump litter all over the place and some of them have resorted to burning rubbish which has environmental implications,” said Ndlovu. 

“We need to ensure the incoming council prioritises the people so we are ready to vote for change,” she added.

Aspiring councillor for Ward 7 in Gwanda, Thembani Mathuthu, promised to transform the city if voted into office.

“I intend to improve on service delivery in Gwanda. Nobody’ s health should be compromised by poor service delivery such as uncollected garbage. I will also make sure that there is transparency when it comes to water billing. I say no to estimates because people are supposed to pay for the actual water they consumed. I also say no to shared water meters. Each family must have their own water meter, ” said Mathuthu. 

” I will also try very hard to improve public lighting because this would be a major factor in fighting the increasing crime rate. We are experiencing an upsurge in cases of mugging and housebreaking. I believe this is caused mostly by unemployment and drug abuse and compounded by poor lighting, ” added Mathuthu. 

As a Zanu PF candidate, Mathuthu has pledged to help the people of Gwanda benefit from the presidential title deeds provision program.

“No one must be left behind as the President has said. Most property owners in Gwanda do not know what a title deeds document looks like and how important it is. These are some of the things that l want to do if elected into office,” said Mathuthu.