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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,[email protected]

COUNCILLORS that have assumed office under the Gwanda Rural District Council have been urged to work towards attaining record breaking development which will see villagers benefiting fully from the natural resources which are in their areas.

 Speaking recently during a full council meeting for electing the council chairperson and chairpersons of various committees administrator in the office of the Gwanda District Development Coordinator, Mr Thulani Moyo said the district has adequate resources which if monetised could improve livelihoods. The district is rich in mopane worm production, livestock, mining and agriculture.

The event was attended by councillors, Gwanda Rural District Council staff, head of Government departments, civic organisations, law enforcement agents among other stakeholders.

31 councillors have been selected to represent the 24 wards in the district. These include 22 males and nine females. 24 councillors, 22 males and two females were voted into power during the recently held elections while seven females assumed office under proportional representation.

Gwanda Rural District Ward 18 councillor Mphathiswa Ncube of Zanu-PF was elected the new council chairperson for the local authority.

Mr Moyo urged the councillors to put their personal differences aside and focus on spearheading development.

“As councillors you have been selected by the people from your communities so that you can represent them and bring about the much needed development. Let’s work together as a team and take development in Gwanda to the next level. Let’s all focus on bringing development which people will talk about for many years to come.

“Let’s leave a name in our communities as councillors that brought change. We might have personal differences but let’s put that aside for the sake of development. This time around you have the advantage numbers as you have seven additional councillors and therefore let’s make use of that. I would like to congratulate you all for making it this far,” he said.

Mr Moyo urged the councillors to work vigorously in their various committees.

Speaking after assuming office, Cllr Ncube said he is prepared to contribute significantly to the development of the district.

“I’m overjoyed and excited to have been entrusted by my colleagues with such an important office of being council chairperson. This shows that they believe in me and my abilities. I have been a councillor for the past two terms and I will use the knowledge I have acquired to bring the much needed development in the district while closely working with my counterparts and other stakeholders.

“As a district we are still lagging behind in development when looking at issues like infrastructure development, development of ICT, network coverage as well as other sectors. Now is the time to display my abilities,” he said.

Cllr Ncube said he is glad that the establishment of councillors now has more women thanks to the Government’s move to allocate a 30 percent council quarter to women. He said it is important for women and the youth to be actively involved in leadership as they can bring about the much needed development.

Cllr Ncube said the quota system has given women an opportunity to be empowered and to fight stereotypes.-@DubeMatutu