Garikai Mafirakureva

ZVISHAVANE-The Zvishavane Town Council is under pressure to disclose the whereabouts of the broken-down yellow machines they bought in 2013. The council bought a grader, a Mercedez Benz tipper and a backhoe (TLB) in South Africa.
Zvishavane Residents Association chairperson Kimano Simango accused the council of buying obsolete equipment at a South African auction, which lasted just a few months before being condemned to the workshop. According to Simango the equipment only worked for two months before it broke down.
“What worries us as residents is that we do not know the whereabouts of that equipment. The council bought new equipment using the devolution funds. That was the last time we saw the old equipment.
“This can be the beginning of corrupt activities. They should be accountable for because that equipment was with public funds. We last saw the backhoe two years ago. We are afraid they want to take advantage of the political situation. An election will bring in new faces. So, no one will ask about that equipment,” Simango.
However, council chairperson Kulekani Ndhlovu insisted that the equipment is at the council workshop. When further quizzed he said the backhoe is in Bulawayo at CAT Zimbabwe workshop.
“Yes, the yellow machines were bought in South Africa, but those people are lying. All the equipment is at our workshop. You can come and see. The backhoe is CAT Zimbabwe in Bulawayo where and engine overhaul is being carried out on it,” said Ndhlovu.