Zanu PF blocks Solomon Mujuru Street
The Zanu PF side of the coalition government has reversed the renaming of Enterprise Road after the late national hero and retired army general Solomon Mujuru along with the renaming of two other roads.
Harare City Council had renamed Rotten Row after the late Chief Justice Enoch Dumbutshena and Churchill Avenue after the late Professor Walter Kamba. But the Zanu PF side of the Government reversed the council resolution arguing it was not consulted.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo said the resolution to change the street names was null and void. “That resolution is a nullity. The city should follow the proper procedures. Council should write to the Ministry for approval,” he said.
He said once the request was done he would take it to cabinet for approval. “We cannot just allow things to happen that way. We need order and uniformity in the way business is done,” he said.
But Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said he could not comment on the matter as he had not received any official communication from Minister Chombo.
“I am not in a position to make any comment. Besides, given my extensive legal background I prefer dealing with facts unlike politicians who seem to thrive on hearsay, rumour mongering and intrigue,” he said.
Mayor Masunda said once official communication was made the city’s legal department would advise council. According to the council resolution the renaming of Enterprise Road to General Solomon Mujuru Road was, however, subject to the concurrence of his widow Vice President Joice Mujuru and the Mujuru family.
The families of Chief Justice Dumbutshena and Prof Kamba had agreed to the changes. Council had indicated it was going to notify Government of the names changes. The roads were chosen because they pass through or near institutions that the luminaries served.
Enterprise Road was named after General Mujuru probably because it is near KG VI barracks and that it leads to his house. Council said it was renaming Rotten Row after Chief Justice Dumbutshena because the Harare Magistrates’ Courts are located along the road.
It also said Churchill Road would become Prof Walter Kamba Road because the University of Zimbabwe where he was the first black Vice-Chancellor after independence is in that road. Government changed names of several roads after independence to honour heroes, prominent Zimbabweans and leaders of friendly states.
Some major roads were named after icons of the liberation struggle such as Josiah Tongogara, Herbert Chitepo, Jason Moyo, George Silundika, Joshua Nkomo and Josiah Chinamano.
Other roads were named after regional leaders such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Sam Nujoma of Namibia and Samora Machel of Mozambique.
