By Dungwiza News Reporter

CHITUNGWIZA ward 24 Councillor Obert Matsika has broken his silence over accusations that he is siding with the government’s latest directive to demolish illegal vending structures under Operation Chenesa Harare.

Some vendors at Jambanja Market in his ward, reportedly aligned to Zanu PF, have been circulating messages on social media accusing the councillor of supporting the planned destruction of the stalls.

In a statement issued on 26 September 2026 and seen by Dungwiza News, Cllr Matsika said the messages are false, defamatory and laced with hate speech and political malice.

“I have noted with concern some messages circulating on various social media platforms falsely attacking and defaming my character as the Councillor of Ward 24 in Chitungwiza.

“I appeal to Ward 24 residents, stakeholders and the general citizenry to ignore these misleading messages with connotations of hate speech, politically motivated malice and attacks,” Matsika said.

Matsika said he represents all residents in Ward 24, including informal traders, and sympathises with vendors targeted under Operation Chenesa Harare.

He revealed that he was raised by a family of informal traders who paid for his school fees through vending, and that he himself has been a product of Jambanja Market since 2008.

“It pains me to look back and not associate with this market that brought me this far. It is against this background that I will never incite the destruction of market stalls.”

The councillor said that Operation Chenesa Harare is not a Chitungwiza Municipality initiative, but a central government directive being implemented by all local authorities in Harare Metropolitan Province.

“Unfortunately, councils operate through resolutions and as an individual, I hold no power to veto any decision arrived at through a majority decision. I have no authority as an individual councillor to halt a Ministerial directive,” he said.

“Operation Chenesa Harare is a central government directive and is being implemented by all the local authorities in the Harare Metropolitan Province. It is therefore disheartening that some partisan and myopic individuals are spreading falsehoods and hate speech and dragging my name into a process that emanated from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.”

Matsika said he has a soft spot for informal traders at Jambanja and wants a stakeholder-driven solution and reorganisation of vending in the town, rather than destruction.

He noted that informal traders occupy a strategic position in the economy and contribute immensely to the economic development of Zimbabwe.

As a member of Chitungwiza Council’s Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Matsika said he will continue advocating for the recognition, reorganisation and improvement of the welfare of all informal traders.

Government last week announced a fresh crackdown on illegal vending structures in Harare Metropolitan Province, a move that has triggered anxiety among thousands of informal traders in Chitungwiza who depend on markets like Jambanja for survival.

MARONDERA – The highly anticipated second edition of the Dungwiza Community Trailblazers Awards (DCTA), originally scheduled to take place today, Friday 29 May 2026, has been postponed until June following critical feedback from community partners.

Organisers of the prestigious event announced the abrupt delay early Friday morning, citing a strategic decision to avoid compromise and protect the overall quality of the ceremony.

In a statement released to stakeholders, the DCTA Organising Committee emphasised that proceeding with the original date would have resulted in “cutting corners” on the guest experience and limited the participation of key regional stakeholders.

“The brief pause protects the value of what our stakeholders paid for,” the committee stated, promising that a rescheduled event in June will deliver the world-class standard originally guaranteed to the community.

Addressing potential corporate anxieties regarding financial risk, the organisers took the unusual step of publicly guaranteeing the absolute security of all ticket and table revenues. According to the committee, all financial transactions are currently locked in a dedicated, untouched awards project account, legally earmarked strictly for the ceremony.

“The postponement doesn’t change ownership — your money remains safe and untouched,” the statement read, reassuring stakeholders that no operational funds have been spent outside direct event logistics.

To manage the fallout from the last-minute scheduling shift, organisers announced that all existing corporate table bookings will automatically roll over to the unconfirmed June date. As an incentive for patience, early-booking stakeholders have been promised premium priority seating and exclusive first access to the revised itinerary.

The awards, which draw heavy participation from prominent regional bodies including various agricultural and industrial giants, are intended to honour trailblazing leaders across various socioeconomic sectors.

The organising committee extended an apology for the logistical disruptions caused by the delay but maintained that a high-calibre execution outweighs a rushed event. A finalised date and an upgraded official programme are expected to be made public soon, whilst organisers confirmed that table bookings remain open for prospective corporate partners.

‘The event has positioned itself as the province’s premier networking hub, where grassroots heroes rub shoulders with the elite, and business deals are sealed over champagne’

MARONDERA – Mashonaland East is set to ignite into a beacon of light, fashion, and triumph as the second edition of the Dungwiza Community Trailblazers Awards (DCTA) descends upon the Hope Fay Hotel and Conference Centre on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Forget the stiff formality of standard ceremonies. The DCTA is designed as a celebration where the grit of the streets meets the glamour of provincial success.

This is where Chitungwiza’s celebrated artists and sporting legends clink glasses with the agricultural and mining titans of Marondera.

According to the organisers, Perfection Media Pvt Ltd, the awards are a “strategic corridor” of excellence, a rare moment where the region’s most brilliant minds gather under one roof to rewrite the provincial narrative.

At the heart of this cultural movement is Albert Masaka, the visionary CEO whose passion for unearthing local heroes has become a national phenomenon. For Masaka, the 2026 edition is about more than just trophies; it is a regional revolution.

“This night is the ultimate stage for both the visible and invisible giants who carry our communities on their backs,” he said.

“By bringing the DCTA to Marondera, we are not just moving locations—we are expanding a legacy. We are proving that whether you are a tech-preneur in Chitungwiza or a visionary farmer in Mutoko, your brilliance deserves a standing ovation.”

The event has positioned itself as the province’s premier networking hub, where grassroots heroes rub shoulders with the elite, and business deals are sealed over champagne.

Masaka challenged residents and organisations in Chitungwiza and Mashonaland East to be part of the live experience rather than watching from the sidelines.

“Don’t wait for the highlights reel to trend on social media; be the highlight yourself,” he urged. “The road to excellence leads to Marondera this May. Will you be in the room when the trailblazers take flight?”

The evening’s entertainment is set to be a masterclass in local talent, aimed at bridging the gap between legendary heritage and modern urban fire.

However, the true soul of the night remains those breathtaking moments when a community leader, after decades of working in the shadows, finally walks into the spotlight to a deafening roar of approval.

From high-stakes Innovation and Tech awards to the prestigious Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Service, the emotional stakes are unparalleled.

“You won’t just be a spectator; you’ll be part of a collective surge of pride that can be felt in your very bones,” Masaka added.

“You cannot afford to miss this. When that curtain goes up on May 29, the energy will be transformative.”

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