MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU—Livingston Churu has been appointed the substantive Town Clerk of the City of Gweru, ending a prolonged period in which the local authority operated without one, Mayor Cllr Martin Chivhoko announced on Thursday.
Churu, who had been serving in an acting capacity, assumes executive management of the city following an extensive recruitment process that involved multiple rounds of public advertising and interviews.
Mayor Chivhoko said the appointment comes at a critical time as the city grapples with service delivery challenges and ongoing efforts to stabilize its organisational leadership.
Churu has been at the helm of the council’s administration since his elevation from City Finance Director to acting Town Clerk following the departure of Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe.
Chikwekwe, who had previously served as Chamber Secretary and acting Town Clerk, resigned leaving the council with a leadership gap.
Before assuming the acting Town Clerk role, Churu was the council’s Finance Director, where he was responsible for financial oversight and statutory reporting.
During his tenure as acting Town Clerk, Churu played a visible operational leadership role.
In late 2025, he issued directives on key council matters, including enforcement of drainage bylaws and regulatory compliance by property owners.
Gweru City Council has been seeking a substantive Town Clerk since the dismissal of Elizabeth Gwatipedza in 2019.
Previous recruitment efforts attracted few qualified candidates, resulting in repeated re-advertisements and delays in filling the post, which has been identified as central to improving service delivery and institutional stability.
As Town Clerk, Churu will serve as the council’s Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, responsible for overseeing departments, guiding administrative strategy, and ensuring the effective delivery of services in line with statutory requirements.
Council officials and stakeholders have welcomed the appointment, expressing hope that stable leadership will help address persistent challenges, including financial accountability, infrastructure maintenance, and improved service delivery for residents.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association executive director Cornillia Selipiwe commended the appointment of Churu as town clerk, saying he has the capacity and institutional knowledge to address the city’s long-standing challenges.
“We want to thank the Ministry of Local Government for appointing someone who understands the system to lead the city. He is fully aware of the challenges and needs of Gweru residents. As residents, we will give him our full support so that service delivery improves,” Selipiwe said.
