Former Gwanda Councillor dies

The immediate last Councillor for Ward 4 Gwanda Urban Councillor Robert Banda has died, he was 58.

Born on the 7th of November 1955, Banda succumbed to a short battle with jaundice at the United Bulawayo Hospitals. Councillor Banda was elected into council in 2008 on an MDC (Ncube) ticket as councillor for the always hotly contested Ward 4 of Gwanda. Ward 4 is considered by residents to be the pinnacle of Gwanda and as per tradition is always the hottest contested seat in the town so much that political parties always second their best candidates to the ward.

While in Council, Banda was the chairperson of council's most powerful committee the Finance and Licensing Committee. He was also the MDC secretary for the Gwanda Central Constituency and a member of the MDC since its insertion as a united party in 1999.

In a notice announcing the death of the councillor, Mr Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo the interim Spokesperson for the Gwanda Residents Association described the death of Banda as a huge loss to the small mining town.

He also described Banda as " A true father, brother and resident of Jahunda who gave most of his time to the civic and recreational causes of our beloved small town."

In other sectors Banda was also a qualified soccer referee and was at one moment also the secretary of the Matebeleland South Referee's Association. He was also a businessman in the town operating the only dry cleaning agency in the town.

Banda is survived by this wife Sithabiso and two daughters Pamela and Mervis. Burial arrangements have not yet been made available. Mourners are gathered at his home house number 789 Geneva Township of Gwanda.

In this same wake, reports trickling in from Gwanda indicated that MDC T losing candidate who contested the same ward in the July 31 elections Ubuletsi Nyathi has also died. The ward 4 council seat was contested closely between Banda, Nyathi and the eventual winner Mduduzi Malaba Ncube of ZANU PF.