CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) ward 7 councillor, Lovemore Maiko was yesterday re-elected Chitungwiza mayor after polling 31 votes against Zanu PF’s Leah Chidamba who garnered two votes.
He will be deputised by ward 12 councillor Jerita Mutingwende, also of the CCC.
The election was supervised by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Tafadzwa Muguti, who urged Chitungwiza councillors to take off their political jackets when conducting their duties.
“I expect councillors to support, respect and work hand-in-hand with the mayor and deputy. I also ask for discernment and being able to understand that the moment you are elected, you're not a political appointee, but a full government official. We take our politics, be it Zanu PF or CCC, to our party offices. The moment we come here, residents expect to see city fathers and mothers who are going to help and lead them," he said.
In his acceptance speech, Maiko said he would prioritise residents before anything else.
"I accept this with a huge sense of responsibility and the agency of leadership in delivering quality service to the residents of our municipality reliably. Councillors are residents first before they are aldermen, and collectively we shall remain conscious of this and plan, implement and evaluate within the framework of this position," he said.
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