SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

GWERU – Martin Chivhoko is Gweru Citys new mayor after being elected unopposed on a CCC ticket on 22 September, 2023.
Chivhoko joined Gweru council chambers in 2018..
He was born in Buhera and went to Mombeyara Primary School, Chaplin High School and then tertiary institutes including Gweru Poly and Midlands State University.
He has the following qualifications, HND Sales and Marketing Management ,Diploma in Estate Agents Practice and he is currently studying Bsc Honours Local Governance and Management with the Midlands State University (MSU).
Chivhoko worked for Trustlink Real Estate, Eelis Real Estate and Gweru Real Estate.
He joined politics in 2003 rising from branch to the Youth Assembly National Executive 2014 to 2019 which is the position he holds now as well as the Councillor for Ward 4 and the Mayor of Gweru.
He is married to Memory Chivhoko and they have five children namely Rutendo, Tavonga,Makanaka,Martin jnr, and Mufaro.
Speaking after his election, Chivhoko said his number one enemy at the local authority is corruption. He said he was going to fight corruption to a point where he would fire people for embezzling amounts as little as US$5.
“Everyone should be transparent and accountable. I will not hesitate to fire anyone involved in corruption. You will go home if you are found to have abused $5. You will not come back to council,” he said.
He said his main focus will be on projects like rehabilitation of robots within the next three months, upgrading of sewage works at Cambridgeshire and Pakamisa and servicing of Mkoba 21 stands.
He said his target is to ensure that by the end of his five-year term he would have accomplished projects that include provision of portable water to all areas, streetlights on all major roads leading to the City centre, road rehabilitation, relocation of Woodlands dumpsite and making sure that refuse is collected timeously. Chivhoko called for unity of purpose between management and councilors.
Gweru acting Town Clerk, Livingston Churu announced the results of the elections.
Acting Gweru District Development Coordinator (DDC), Tarisai Mudadigwa presided over the election which was attended by Kwekwe Central MP, Judith Tobaiwa, Gweru Urban MP Josiah Makombe and former MP for Chiwundura, Livingston Chimina.
“Thank you, fellow councillors for voting me as the Mayor. I would like to call on everyone in management and councillors to work together to develop the city of Gweru and improve service delivery,” he said.Chivhoko will be deputized by Ward 10 councilor Nyaradzo Madzikura who was also uncontested.