The MDC-led Bindura Town Municipality is fighting a Harare based construction company to recover a total of US$1, 5 million that was meant for road maintenance in the town last year.

Bindura last year received US$1, 5 million from the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) to carry out maintenance on the town’s roads.

The town’s mayor, Ivory Matanhire, said a total of 40km was to be covered but the contracted company, Twalumba Contractors only managed to surface a road, which is less than a kilometre long. The council is angered that Zinara and the Mashonaland Central provincial administrator, Josphat Jaji imposed Twalumba on the council to carry out the work without going for tender, which is against the Road Authority Act.  

Jaji even threatened the Bindura Council that he would pressure Zinara to take back the funds if the council refused Twalumba the right to carry out the work but the contractor failed to do the work although the company was paid its money in full.

However, the Bindura Town Council has since moved in and sacked the town engineer, Batsirai Musona for allowing such shoddy work to be carried out and agreeing to the payment of Twalumba for the unfinished job.

The council has also blocked another attempt by Zinara to bring in a new contractor, Heingate which is owned by Danny Kasukuwere.  Kasukuwere is the elder brother to Saviour Kasukuwere, a Zanu PF Politburo member who hails from the province.

Mayor Matanhire said the council would not allow Jaji, the provincial administrator to continue approving dubious companies and not engaging the council as this was not procedural. He said council would take further steps to recover money that was given to Twalumba.

Meanwhile, an MDC activist Dickson Kazingizi (69) who is the Secretary for Musana, Bindura South district, has died. Kazingizi succumbed to a long illness following his assault by Zanu PF thugs during the bloody election re-run of 2008. He died at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.

Kazingizi will be buried at Mumhurwi School in Musana village tomorrow.

In Maramba-Pfungwe constituency, Maria Maworera, the MDC Women Assembly Chairlady for Ward 6 on Tuesday had her hut torched by suspected Zanu PF thugs in the area. She lost valuable household goods and this year’s yield. The incident took place during the night after a warning by Cleopas Kufuka, the Zanu PF district chairperson for Maramba-Pfungwe that they were out in full force to crush the MDC in Mashonaland East.

She reported the incident to Mutawatawa police who opened a docket under RRB 1089906 and Constable Kufa is investigating the case.

Political violence in Maramba-Pfungwe constituency in Mashonaland East province has continued unabated despite numerous pleas by political leaders for people to stop.

Last month, Mai Kazembe a provincial member of the MDC Women’s Assembly had her hut destroyed by fire after another arson attack by Zanu PF.

The people’s struggle for real change: Let’s finish it!!!