Moses Madyira
CHIKOMBA—Chikomba Rural District Council (RDC) Chairman, Israel Dhikinya’s failure to deliver his promise to Miss Chivhu has dented the 16-year-old modelling sensation’s hopes of having a residential stand.
Tanyaradzwa Manyande (16) who is doing form four at Liebenberg High School dazzled judges during a modelling contest which was held at Philjen Country Lodges earlier this year. She mesmerized spectators and judges adjudged her the best performer of the night and crowned her Miss Chivhu.
As inherent in politicians, Dhikinya decided to seize the opportunity by attracting perhaps the loudest ululations of the night when he announced that he was awarding Manyande with a 200 square meter residential stand in the transit farming town for her sterling performance during the contest.
He said he was mesmerized by Manyande’s confidence, courage, dressing and mostly the way she carried herself throughout the competition.
The Midweek Watch has established that Dhikinya has not reached out to Manyenda almost four months after the contest when he made the promise.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, Manyande said she has been waiting to hear from the council chair for the past four months to no avail.
“There has been no communication from the Council since the day of the contest when he made the promise publicly and I don’t know whether I will get my stand or not,” said Manyande.
Dhikinya told this publication that the issue was still yet to be debated in the Social Services Committee and insisted he was not in a hurry to do so since Manyande doesn’t have the capacity to develop a stand at the moment.
“The matter is still yet to be debated in the Social Service committee and after that, we will inform the technical team about it and Manyende will be allocated her stand. I am not in a hurry since she is not going to develop the stand instantly,” said Dhikinya.
Chikomba RDC CEO Bullen Chiwara could not be reached for a comment.
Ward 11 councilor Collen Zvarevashe said it was unfortunate that the council chair got carried away and made promises to give away a stand without prior communication with other councilors.
Chances are high that he might have failed to avoid the temptation of making promises out of excitement which most politicians fail to avoid.
Politicians tend to try to profile themselves whenever they get a chance to address the public, be it at a funeral, sports gala, or any other event. This hunger to position themselves is the main factor why politicians usually make promises they can’t fulfil.
