News / Local
Gift Banda in another scandal
29 Mar 2015 at 08:56hrs | Views
Bulawayo Deputy mayor Gift Banda is once again embroiled in another messy scandal as he is accused of demanding bribes from people seeking jobs as street sweepers in his Ward 5.
Banda is said to be blocking Ward 5 resident's perceived to be Zanu PF members from joining the scheme.
Engaged cleaners get $200 each month.
"It is surprising that the whole 20 of the people employed were people from Morningside, a certain Mr Sakala called us for some meeting to announce the names of those that had been employed, he was not only arrogant but even spelled out that they did not want anyone from Zanu-PF.
"What surprised us is that Clr Banda is not there as an MDC-T member but is there as a councillor. If his emissaries say people from Zanu-PF are not supposed to be included in those groups it really baffles the mind. Besides, what proof do they have that we are members of Zanu-PF, we are just Zimbabweans," said Camen Sibanda told Sunday News.
The community cleaning groups scheme was introduced by the Bulawayo City Council to ease the workload on council employees by engaging residents to clean trenches in their wards and pick litter.
Ward 5 covers; Hillside, Whitecairns, Eloana, Four Winds, Newton, Morningside, Greenhill, Hillcrest, Famona, Suburbs Portion, Bradfield, Centenary Park, and a portion of Burnside.
"There was a near-demonstration last week with one of the residents alleging he had paid Mr Sakala $30 to be included in the scheme but his name had been unceremoniously omitted, however the chaos started when Mr Sakala claimed he would look into the issue" Pretty Magutshwa is quoted saying.
Banda dismissed the claims alleging that those who were complaining were a few individuals who did not even attend ward feedback meetings.
"I honestly do not know these people, I think it's unfair for them to make all these accusations, they say for themselves that I did not handle this recruitment exercise but they go on to accuse me of employing according to party lines.
This is not the first time that BCC has been locked in a wrangle with the engagement of community groups.
In 2011 councillors were left with egg on face when their attempt to bar community sweepers purported to be from Zanu-PF was declared null and void by the Bulawayo High Court.
Banda is said to be blocking Ward 5 resident's perceived to be Zanu PF members from joining the scheme.
Engaged cleaners get $200 each month.
"It is surprising that the whole 20 of the people employed were people from Morningside, a certain Mr Sakala called us for some meeting to announce the names of those that had been employed, he was not only arrogant but even spelled out that they did not want anyone from Zanu-PF.
"What surprised us is that Clr Banda is not there as an MDC-T member but is there as a councillor. If his emissaries say people from Zanu-PF are not supposed to be included in those groups it really baffles the mind. Besides, what proof do they have that we are members of Zanu-PF, we are just Zimbabweans," said Camen Sibanda told Sunday News.
The community cleaning groups scheme was introduced by the Bulawayo City Council to ease the workload on council employees by engaging residents to clean trenches in their wards and pick litter.
"There was a near-demonstration last week with one of the residents alleging he had paid Mr Sakala $30 to be included in the scheme but his name had been unceremoniously omitted, however the chaos started when Mr Sakala claimed he would look into the issue" Pretty Magutshwa is quoted saying.
Banda dismissed the claims alleging that those who were complaining were a few individuals who did not even attend ward feedback meetings.
"I honestly do not know these people, I think it's unfair for them to make all these accusations, they say for themselves that I did not handle this recruitment exercise but they go on to accuse me of employing according to party lines.
This is not the first time that BCC has been locked in a wrangle with the engagement of community groups.
In 2011 councillors were left with egg on face when their attempt to bar community sweepers purported to be from Zanu-PF was declared null and void by the Bulawayo High Court.
Source - Sunday News
