By A Correspondent

Angry residents of Masvingo are up in arms against opposition councillors, accusing them of shielding Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa, who is facing fraud charges.

“These councillors are useless, they are busy protecting a corrupt individual,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another resident fumed: “We are tired of being taken for a ride by our leaders. It’s time they took responsibility for their actions.”

A third resident added, “The opposition councillors are supposed to represent us, but instead, they are protecting the corrupt Town Clerk. It’s a betrayal of our trust.”

The controversy surrounding Mukaratirwa centers around allegations of improper vehicle procurements.

He is accused of exploiting his position to acquire a luxury vehicle that exceeded his approved entitlement. Specifically, he allegedly opted for a Toyota Prado VX-L valued at US$251,798, instead of the approved Toyota Prado VX 3.0 litre engine, which was valued at US$109,151.

Furthermore, Mukaratirwa is suspected of misrepresenting facts regarding a double cab Toyota D4D vehicle allocated to the engineering department.

The vehicle was actually a donation from the African Development Bank aimed at supporting the municipal water and sanitation program.

Despite this, Mukaratirwa allegedly deceived the Masvingo City Council into transferring ownership of the vehicle to him.

Mukaratirwa’s case has been adjourned until March 3, 2025, with Masvingo Magistrate Innocent Bepura emphasizing the need for witnesses to be prepared for the next court appearance.

The residents’ anger is palpable, and they are demanding accountability from their leaders.

As one resident put it, “Enough is enough. We want our leaders to serve us, not themselves.”