ASHER MOYO
CHIPINGE-Ward 5 councilor Kingston Dhlumo was elected Chipinge Town Council (CTC) chairperson in an election held at CTC boardroom yesterday, presided over by the District Development Coordinator, William Mashava.
“The election was held peacefully. Everything went on as there was no voting because he was unanimously selected. We also managed to place councilors in various council committees,” he said.
Dhlumo will be deputized by ward 6 councilor, Takesure Mafaune.
Committee chairpersons were also selected during the same process.
Ward 8 councilor Crispen Rambu will head the Environmental Management and Technical Services committee, while Tobias Manzou is chairperson of the Housing committee. Planning will be headed by Sarah Marwa Sithole and Audit will be chaired by Nothando Gora. Cherechedzai Katsvata wil chair the Finance committee.
CTC is dominated by CCC councilors with only one from Zanu PF Enesi Mhlanga who came in through the women’s quota system.
In an interview with Midweek Watch Dhlumo said he will work hand in glove with the community.
“I understand very well that this is a very big post which comes with a lot of responsibilities. A lot needs to be done but it takes collective effort to accomplish the goals.
“I want to do a proper engagement with the community and come up with a strategic plan. We will set our priorities together with the community.
“We will win together and lose together. Councillors have been there before. They come and go, at times the councilors achieve the set target and at times they fail, but my expectation is to work with Chipinge residents. They will guide us as the council to prioritise the projects that need to be done in Chipinge.
“We will tackle each and every problem together with the community,” said Dhlumo.
Dhlumo has a mammoth task ahead of him since the state of service delivery is unacceptably low just like in most councils across the country.
CTC is not spared and it is yet to meet the 2021 budget targets. Some of the major deliverables for 2021 included a water bowser and motorized compactor which the local authority lost US $76 000 in a botched deal to a Harare based company, ESP Capital Equipment.
The matter is before the courts.
