Tanyaradzwa Chigumbu

The City of Gweru has temporarily closed its popular “Love My Gweru” monument after vandalism rendered parts of the structure unsafe, raising concerns about protecting municipal infrastructure.

Located in front of Town House, the monument has become a favorite photo spot for residents and visitors looking to capture memories of the city. However, officials have warned the public to stay away from the structure after discovering damaged electrical cables and exposed wiring.

In a public safety alert, the council declared the area off-limits until it repairs the damaged sections and certifies the site safe for public use.
“Residents are strongly cautioned to stay away from the signage to avoid potential injury,” the City warned.

The council also said anyone found in the restricted area would face penalties. City of Gweru Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee noted the increasing instances of vandalism targeting municipal infrastructure and urged residents to stop damaging public property. “We have observed that some individuals have chosen to vandalize council infrastructure. I would like to emphasize that this behavior is illegal,” she said.

Chingwaramusee explained that tampering with electrical cables has affected the recently installed monument, posing a danger to visitors. “We recently set up the My Gweru monument in front of Town House, but some electrical cables have been tampered with. We urge the public not to approach the monument as it is currently unsafe due to exposed wiring,” she added.

Questions have arisen about who might be responsible for the damage, with various allegations surfacing from local business operators in the vicinity of the monument. Some individuals have pointed fingers at photographers who use the site as a business location, charging members of the public for taking pictures.

However, the photographers have dismissed these allegations, arguing that vandalizing the monument would harm their source of income. They emphasized that the structure has become an important business location, attracting residents and visitors who want to photograph the city’s iconic signage.

One photographer, who asked to remain anonymous, suggested that nighttime activity around the monument could also contribute to the problem. This photographer alleged that some street vendors operate in the area after dark, and certain patrons’ behavior might correlate with the damage occurring at the site. There have also been suggestions that street children, commonly referred to as “zvibhonda,” may be involved.

Despite these claims, they remain unverified, and the council has not publicly identified anyone responsible for the vandalism. This incident highlights the ongoing need to protect public infrastructure, especially those facilities that contribute to the city’s identity and provide business opportunities for residents.

The My Gweru monument, known for its large red heart, serves as a landmark where residents and visitors take photos while celebrating their connection to the city. Its popularity has created opportunities for informal photographers who earn a living by taking pictures for visitors.

With the site temporarily closed, photographers and others doing business around the monument are likely to be affected until repairs are complete.
The council has urged residents to respect public property and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.

The local authority’s Communication and Public Relations Office has announced that it is working to secure the site and repair the vandalized sections before allowing the public to use the facility again.