KNIVES are out for Chinhoyi mayor Owen Charuza, as some councillors bay for his blood over what they refer to as “countless trips”, as well as favouritism in the selection of city fathers to attend workshops and other events.
Things came to a head last week when two housing and human resources committee members boycotted meetings in protest against Charuza proposed travel to Beitbridge for the border town’s Mayor’s Half Marathon.
Ward 15 Shackleton councillor Innocent Mangwanya said most councillors boycotted the meeting in protest of the mayor’s Beitbridge trip.
He said most councillors were not happy with the mayor and council management, accusing them of prioritising trips over service delivery.
“Most (councillors) are not happy with the mayor’s penchant for trips at the expense of service delivery and workers welfare, whose salaries are in arrears,” Mangwanya said.
Last week, one of the councillors, who boycotted the housing committee meeting, said council needed to revisit its priorities.
“We have pressing issues like service delivery that we need to prioritise,” a councillor, who preferred anonymity, said.
Another councillor, however, defended Charuza saying he was being targeted by political foes.
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“It’s politics at play. Some councillors want to remove the mayor by painting a bad image about him, pretending as if they themselves care for the workers,” the councillor said.
Charuza said councillors should follow procedure when airing their grievances.
“If it’s true, then councillors don’t know why they were elected because if they are aggrieved, there’s a procedure to be followed,” he said.
Combined Chinhoyi Residents Association chairperson Tendayi Musonza bemoaned neglect of service delivery by councillors.
“Councillor Charuza is not an executive mayor, his powers are reposed in full council,” he said.
“His behaviour has caused despondency and disorder at the local authority, which is not good for service delivery.”
Added Musonza: “Council employees have gone for 10 months without salaries, yet salaries are supposed to be the first obligation of any organisation.
“That alone is a danger to service delivery for which they are meant as a local authority.”
