By Kelvin Kasiwulaya
City of Gweru councilors on Monday resolved to confer President Emmerson Mnangagwa with the Freedom of the City award for his contribution to the growth of the municipality.
The award was previously opposed and blocked by Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) Councilors citing that, President Mnangagwa did not deserve to get such a civic honor.
During a full council meeting, Ward 10 councilor Charles Chikozho moved a motion to rescind resolution 695 to confer the honour on Mnangagwa, which was shot down in September. Ward 8 councilor Notal Dzika seconded the motion for the cancellation of the earlier decision to deny President Mnangagwa the award.
The motion to grand Freedom of the City to President Mnangagwa was unanimously accepted by all councilors present aligned to the MDC-Alliance party led by Douglas Mwonzora.
Seven councilors from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa had boycotted the meeting.
After the resolution, Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi confirmed the conferment.
“The President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conferred with the Freedom of the City status,” Kombayi said.
In 2020 when Victoria Falls was declared a city, it also awarded Mnangagwa the same status, with the local authority saying it was recognizing his contribution to the resort town’s transformation.
Freedom of the City is an honor given by a local council, for example, to either a person (civilian) or military unit, in recognition of their exceptional service to the city. It’s one of our oldest surviving traditional
ceremonies.#The SunÂ
