ZANU PF’s Cde Thamson Lamula Ndou, who was recently elected unopposed as councillor for Ward 14 under Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC), was today formally sworn in.
Cde Ndou, who is a renowned farmer in the Mazunga area, automatically became a councillor after no other candidate filed nomination papers at the court, which sat at the BBRDC offices on January 21 last month.
The seat fell vacant in December last year following the death of Councillor Milton Ndou. Cde Ndou emerged victorious in the ZANU-PF primary elections held in Ward 14 recently.
Cde Thamson Lamula Ndou being sworn in on Monday as Ward 14 Councillor under the Beitbridge RDC by the chief executive officer Mrs Kiliboni Mbedzi
Beitbridge RDC chief executive officer, Mrs Kiliboni Mbedzi, who presided over the swearing-in process, said it was done in term with the local government and related laws of the land.
“The council has also recommended that he joins the Social development and community services committee and the one looking at Natural resources conservation and tourism where the late Councillor Milton Ndou was also a member,” said Mrs Mbedzi.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, the council chairperson, Cllr Oscar Chiromo, advised the newly elected councillor to prioritise community engagement and consultation in all his programmes to drive development.
“We welcome you and congratulate you. Now is the time to work; you need to value the input of the community, traditional leaders and other development agencies and stakeholders for you to succeed,” said Cllr Chiromo.
Zanu PF’s central committee member Cde Metrine Mudau, who also witnessed the process, said the councillor should embrace collaboration to ensure the envisaged Vision 2030 becomes a living reality.
“You must remain the servant of the people and leave no one behind and address issues affecting your ward, the district and the local authority,” she said.
In an interview, Cde Ndou reiterated his pledge to prioritise community engagement and consultations.
He indicated that he will carry on with the infrastructure projects started by his predecessor in the ward, which include the repair of roads, bridges and the construction of a secondary school to cater for children in the largely resettlement area.
