BRIDGET MABANDA
As the country goes down in history for having the shortest serving political leaders in history due to the recall madness, newly elected Harare City Mayor Lovejoy Chitengu is praying a quick return of recalled city fathers for the smooth running of the capital.
Chitengu said he is happy that former Mayor, veteran opposition figure, Ian Makone and his deputy, Kudzai Kadzombe will remain available for consultation on a wide range of issues affecting the City.
He said he is optimistic that they will return to Council, either as a result of court decision or the ballot within the next 90 days.
Chitengu was duly-elected as Harare Mayor, while ward 7 Councillor, Rosemary Muronda was elected as the capital’s Deputy Mayor in elections held at Town House yesterday.
This comes after self proclaimed interim CCC secretary general, one Sengezo Tshabangu recalled Makone and his deputy Kadzombe.
Mayor Chitengu said recalled councilors were hard workers.
“It is a sad moment because Cllr Makone and Cllr Kadzombe and the other recalled councilors are such hard working peopke who have made their mark over the period of their term, cut short by these recalls.
“It is sad that this is happening, not because they have done anything wrong but for doing precisely the opposite,” he said.
Chitengu was on the recalled list with his surname misspelt which then allowed him to contest as Mayor on a technicality.
Mayor Chitengu said that there is need for council to remain focused on its transformative agenda towards a smart city that works for everyone.
“We must not take this trust for granted as we navigate in these turbulent waters. I wish to assure our electors and stakeholders that whatever happens to one or any of us, this council is committed to improving quality of service rendered to the communities in which we live in and serve,” he said
Chitengu thanked the majority party in the City of Harare, CCC, for the trust they have on him to lead the biggest local authority in the country, which is facing a plethora of challenges among the medieval disease, cholera which is threatening the urbanites in their numbers.
