An MDC-T Harare City councillor has proposed that Robert Mugabe Road in the capital be renamed after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Contributing to a debate on the naming of streets in new suburbs, Glen Norah councillor, Wellington Chikombo said since former president Mugabe had a street and an international airport named after him, it would be “fair if the street was to be named after President ED Mnangagwa”.

“Your worship, I think we need to be careful when it comes to naming streets or buildings after some people. We need to avoid over burdening one person by piling names on him.

“We have Robert Mugabe street named after him, we have Robert Mugabe International Airport and now informally though, we have the so called Robert Mugabe square. We risk confusing ourselves and our people. I was proposing that we could change the street and name after the new president ED Mnangagwa,” he said.

Chikombo did not find supporters to his initiative with mayor Bernard Manyenyeni saying the matter should be ventilated at committee levels and by-laws need to be changed to allow eminent personalities in society to be appreciated.

“I request that this matter be dealt with at committee level and that we get clarity on people who should be honoured,” Manyenyeni said.

Zanu PF calls the civic centre opposite the Rainbow Hotel as Robert Mugabe Square while the opposition call it Freedom Square and Manyenyeni said none of the two names were legitimate.

Council wants to name streets in new suburbs but the current by-laws prevent the use of people still alive with the exception of heads of states.

Meanwhile, chairperson of the Environmental committee Herbert Gomba said a number of Harare residents were failing to register to vote as some areas have nameless streets.

Council has also approved the closure of Zimbali Gardens — a popular joint which was being used to host weddings, parties and conferences.- Newsday