The newly elected mayor of Harare, Lovejoy Chitengu, and his deputy, Rosemary Muronda, have been accused of squandering US$24 000 and about $133 million on a lavish trip to Nyanga, a resort town in eastern Zimbabwe. The trip, which also involved six other councillors and top officials, was allegedly aimed at finding “new financial and business” partners for the city.
The controversial trip comes at a time when Harare is facing a serious cholera outbreak that has killed 50 people and infected more than 8,500 since September. The outbreak has been attributed to contaminated water sources, poor sanitation and hygiene, and inadequate health services in the capital. The city authorities have declared a state of emergency and appealed for help from local and international partners to contain the spread of the disease.
However, instead of focusing on the urgent health crisis, the mayor and his team have chosen to spend four days at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga, attending the Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking annual conference. The conference, which started on Monday and ends today, claims to offer opportunities for networking, learning and discovering best practices from leading and fast-growing companies.
The mayor’s trip has sparked outrage and criticism from various stakeholders, including the residents, the opposition, the civil society and the media. They have questioned the legitimacy, the timing and the cost of the trip, and demanded accountability and transparency from the city leaders.
The mayor, who was elected last week to replace the recalled Ian Makone, has defended his trip, saying it was necessary to attract investment and development for the city. He also said he was not aware of the cholera outbreak when he planned the trip, and that he had delegated the responsibility of dealing with it to his subordinates.
However, his explanation has not convinced many, who see his trip as a sign of incompetence, irresponsibility and corruption. They have called for his resignation and for an investigation into the misuse of public funds.
The mayor’s trip also exposes the deepening political crisis in Harare, which has been marred by infighting, recalls and court battles among the councillors. The mayor and his deputy are among the councillors who have been recalled by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu, who accuses them of being disloyal to the party. The recall process has been challenged in court by the affected councillors, who claim it is illegal and politically motivated.
The political instability has hampered the effective delivery of services and the governance of the city, which is home to more than two million people. The residents have been suffering from water shortages, power cuts, garbage piles, potholed roads and dilapidated infrastructure for years.
Despite the challenges, some residents have expressed hope that the situation will improve and that the city will overcome the cholera outbreak and the political crisis. They have also urged the city leaders to put aside their differences and work together for the common good of the people.
Source: My Zimbabwe News
