Zanu PF-Linked Youth Group Petitions Harare Mayor To Rename Borrowdale Road, ‘Grace Mugabe’

“She has stood with the people of Zimbabwe in creation of self-employment through ZimAsset projects, which are a success.

“One of the biggest achievements was building the orphans’ school in Mazowe, where the less privileged and orphans are offered the same education as people in advanced schools.”

The chairperson of Harare City Council’s environment committee, Thomas Gomba, confirmed receiving the letter, which will now have to be considered by the local authority.

But he warned that chances that such a request would succeed were slim, considering the First Lady did not meet the set standards for anyone to have a road named after them.

“Such an honour is usually bestowed on the President or someone who has died after contributing immensely to the development of Harare as a city or the country at large,” Gomba said.

“One of the things the people requesting council to name a road after her is the Mazowe Children’s Home, but this is not in our jurisdiction. Mazowe Rural District Council could do so and not us.

“From our understanding, the First Lady has not done anything extraordinary for Harare or Zimbabwe as a country outside her political party, Zanu PF, which could give grounds for us to name a road after her. I don’t see that succeeding. In any case, we have already named a road after her husband, who is a leader of this country.”

This is not the first time that Zanu PF and other groups associated with the ruling party have attempted to have a road named after Grace.

Last year, in the run-up to its elective congress, Zanu PF grabbed a council-owned open space adjacent to Rainbow Towers Hotel and Harare Magistrates’ Court and renamed it Robert Mugabe Square, with the main road leading into it named Dr Grace Mugabe Way.

But the local authority later pulled down signposts that had been erected to honour the First Family. However, Chakanyuka still believes council should accede to their request, saying the First Lady “has done a lot for Zimbabwe”.

“We cannot name all of the things she has done in this letter, but if you give us an opportunity, we would be happy to oblige.
“Our main concern is the changing of the street name from Borrowdale Road to Dr Grace Mugabe Way,” Chakanyuka said.

Borrowdale Road leads to the affluent Borrowdale suburb, where President Robert Mugabe, several high-ranking government officials and the rich and famous live.

If the youth organisation were to get its way, Grace would be the first living person in Zimbabwe, besides her husband, to have such a landmark named in her honour. source-newzimbabwe