Mayor tells GCC bosses to shape up or ship out

Gweru Mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko has warned the city's engineering department that decisive action will be taken against officials who fail to perform their duties, citing poor supervision as a key factor in worsening service delivery.

Addressing an ordinary council meeting last week, Chivhoko said the local authority could not stand by while essential services, particularly road maintenance, deteriorate. His remarks followed complaints from councillors about slow responses from the sewer section and poorly coordinated road works.

The mayor ordered tighter monitoring of council tipper trucks amid allegations that some drivers were selling gravel to private contractors while delivering only two loads per day to the city for road maintenance.

"These practices are slowing down the road maintenance programme," Chivhoko said, urging newly appointed Town Clerk Livingston Churu to bring order to management.

Chivhoko also highlighted that recent rains had exposed serious weaknesses in the city's road infrastructure, stressing the need for urgent interventions. He suggested that council consider investing in climate-resilient road construction technologies and explore public-private partnerships to fast-track repairs.

While critical of road maintenance, the mayor commended the council for improvements in water supply, describing them as a testament to the team's dedication.

Refuse collection and waste management remain priorities, Chivhoko noted, urging council to go beyond collection and invest in public education and awareness campaigns to reduce waste generation. "We could explore partnerships with local businesses and schools to promote recycling initiatives," he said.

The mayor also highlighted efforts to green road corridors as part of beautification and environmental health initiatives in Gweru.

Meanwhile, Gweru District Development Coordinator Tarisai Mudadigwa called on the council to provide clear timelines for its projects to enable effective monitoring and tracking of progress.