COUNCILLOR BOOED OUT OF WORKSHOP

MASVINGO- Ward 8 Councillor Misheck Gapare was last week booed out of a workshop by participants who were irked by his sentiments.
The two day workshop which was on promoting transparency and accountability in public service delivery was organized by the Masvingo United Residents and Rate Payers Association (MURRA) in collaboration with Transparency International –Zimbabwe.

Councillor Gapare had arrived at the workshop at lunch and immediately demanded to be served food. Going on into the workshop, Councillor Gapare disagreed with the other participants on the idea that councilors should not wait to be asked for feedback. Addressing the workshop the Town Clerk Mr Adolf Gusha agreed with other workshop participants on the need for councilors to get back to their wards and give people feedback. Gapare seemed unhappy with this and he raised his hand quickly to voice is disapproval. Councillor Gapare drew the ire of other participants when he suggested that he was too busy for feedback meetings. ”You have to know that I have my own priorities and I cannot go door to door reporting back on council deliberations. Do not forget that I am not a full time employee of the council on salary. I also have my own business and I maybe running around to buy coffins for some of you”, said Gapare.
This did not go down with the other participants and they interjected him in protest. Gapare tried to shout over their voices but gave up and marched out shouting “I did not come here to be abused”. On his marching out the other participants clapped in victory. He did not show up on the second day of the workshop.

The workshop then proceeded with other participants using the councillor as an example of bad leadership skills. Later, people discussed whether councilors should be elected on party lines or based on individuals’ leadership qualities and on merit. The workshop touched on issues of enhancing municipal service delivery through improved accountability and transparency, the role of residents associations in interfacing local Authorities for transparency and accountability. The workshop was also attended by Councilors Muchuchuti, Josia, and Maridza who was elected the deputy Mayor. MURRA has been organizing a lot of workshops to enhance residents’ participation in decision making when it comes to local governance. MURRA was applauded by participants for being pro-active and vibrant in trying to empower residents of Masvingo as well as bringing all stakeholders together.