By Rex Mphisa
A former Ward 5 councillor Granger Nyoni has advised Beitbridge urban councillors to accept a semi-new grader they were supplied and move on or risk political irrelevance.
Hungwe said any use of the grader without a council resolution was tantamount to a misprocurement attracting Government censor.
Discussing in a residents platform called Progressive Residents, Hungwe gave a decisive route Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB) councillors could take over the grader.
MoB was duped by its supplier and took delivery of a semi used grade sold out by leaky seals, worn blade and poorly erased inscription from where supplier took back the machine.
Unless a council resolution is made, executive would face the wrath of Government if the earthmover is used.
“Cllr (Takavingei Mahach) your management is between a hard surface and hard rock. On (two) 2 occasions, the council wanted a brand new grader, but the supplier gave you second hands altogether. Therefore, accepting and using the grader now will only lead to a misprocurement,” said Nyoni.
“And this time, u can’t return the grader as it has overstayed in your workshop.”
“What you now need to do as cllrs is to come together and make a serious resolution to accept and use the grader. That will also put the management on the safe side and remove the political pressure on you from the residents. “ he said.
Nyoni said the council could call for an urgent special full council to put the matter to rest.
“You can invite me to your caucus so that we can share points that will be minuted as the reasons for the use of that grader,” said Nyoni a former Finance chairperson of MoB.
He advised the current Works Committee chairperson Mahachi and the Mayor of Beitbridge Peter Pirato Mafuta to take charge and make an urgent decision.
Nyoni’s comments were triggered by a heated debate lasting two days over why MoB is not using its grader after taking delivery of the same earlier this year.
This week 12 businesspeople pooled resources to buy a grad blade for $687, which got residents asking why MoB was not doing it forthemselves considering he amount was far from what goes to tender.
Apparently the executive had been secretive about the age of the machine.
Local authorities are only allowed to buy new machinery unless with special ministrial authority.
But in this case, they were duped, just like several Government departments.
It is understood ESP Capital equipmemt supplied the grader blade to be fitted on a grader it supplied with a worn one.
Beitbridge residents have been subjected to poor roads and hoped the “new” grader would rescue them.
At the time of going to print Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola was yet to respond.