26/01/2026
Statement on Chitungwiza Municipality's Misplaced Priorities:
Mayor's Luxury Vehicle Acquisition Amid Salary Arrears and Service Failures.
The residents of Chitungwiza express profound dismay at the Chitungwiza Municipality's decision to prioritize the acquisition of a luxury vehicle for Mayor Clr. Rosario Mangoma over addressing critical workers' salary arrears and deteriorating service delivery.The vehicle in question, a Jeep Cherokee, is reported to have costed Council US$127 000. This expenditure is particularly egregious given the Municipality's prolonged financial deficits. Council employees remain owed eight months' salaries in arrears, refuse collection services operate only once every two to three weeks, water reticulation infrastructure has failed entirely, and roads are plagued by potholes and debris.
Notably, the Mayor has not issued strong public statements advocating for improvements in service delivery, yet approved this high-end vehicle, which contributes nothing to municipal operations or resident welfare.CHITREST recognizes the necessity of an official mayoral vehicle. Nevertheless, selecting a US$127,000 model exemplifies a Council leadership profoundly disconnected from community needs, with priorities gravely misaligned.
We urge the Municipality to reverse this decision, prioritize salary payments and service restoration, and ensure greater transparency in future expenditures. Residents demand accountability.
Alice Kuveya
Excutive Director
CHITUNGWIZA RESIDENTS TRUST
