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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
INSIZA Rural District Council (RDC) has forced a councillor who closed a public road citing public safety concerns to re-open it following an outcry from Shangani villagers.

Villagers were up in arms with their councillor who closed part of a public road that passed through her mine without first consulting them or the RDC.

Insiza North Ward 23 councillor and businesswoman Mrs Sikhanyisiwe Nkomo blocked a section of Joseph block mine road which links farms and homesteads to the Bulawayo-Harare road in Shangani.

The road cuts across New Eacles Mine, which she owns.

Insiza Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Mr Fidres Manombe, in a telephone interview, said they summoned the councillor and she admitted that she had closed the public road.

“She apologised saying she had closed the road to protect people and livestock as the road could collapse due to mining activities and from pits at the mine,” he said.

Mr Manombe said they are going to assess the area for public safety.

He said it was unprocedural for one to close a public road, whatever the reasons, without first engaging the local authority.

In an interview at her mine compound in Shangani recently, the councillor admitted that she sealed off part of the road as she feared for people’s lives as it could collapse because of an underground shaft.

“I sealed off part of this road I admit. I did not think that it was going to be such a big deal as I have already cleared a detour on the side. I have contracted someone to come and clear bushes and construct a proper road,” said Cllr Nkomo.

“It is unfortunate that our excavations have now gone under the road and since then it is not safe to drive on the road as it can collapse. I did not do it just because I am a councillor and I have power but I was just protecting the people in my area.”

She said she had fenced off the area in fear that people and livestock were in danger of falling into open pits at her mine.

The councillor said she suspects that some people were plotting against her as she was an independent councillor.

“At the end of 2017, one man fell into one of these pits and it is by luck that he survived. Another man who was driving a tractor plunged into the pit and his tractor had to be drawn out of there by another vehicle. I had spoken to my predecessor on closing off this part of the road before I was even elected into council and she had agreed. This must be a political war that someone is plotting against me because I won as an independent,” she said.

A representative of the villagers, who identified himself as Mr Mandla Nkomo, said the road detour inconvenienced them as their scotch carts are always getting stuck in the mud.

He also said the detour was not safe to use as it was a sharp curve.

Mr Nkomo said villagers were concerned that the councillor decided to close the road without consulting the public first. “I think her actions were unprocedural and she went on to do something without consulting us. I do not think it was legal. She must have abused her powers as a councillor for the ward but with such things there must be public consultations first,” said Mr Nkomo.