Prisca Manyiwa-Masuku
A dark cloud hovers over the Redcliff municipality and the community under its jurisdiction following the death of its Mayor; his Worship councilor Clayton Masiyatsva.
Addressing mourners at the funeral service held at Torwood Hall on Thursday afternoon, Redcliff town clerk Gilson Chakauya described the late mayor as a brilliant and listening leader who had the interests of the Redcliff community at heart.
“The mayor started to work for the community of Redcliff as a young man, he demonstrated brilliant qualities of a good listening leader who always had the interests of the community at heart.
“We had very good working relations and there are times when we would disagree to agree. He was a very straightforward person who did not entertain shortcuts in his work.
“To the councilors, I hope you learnt something from this man because with him we enjoyed working as a team and he never caused confusion in the workplace. So we have lost a great leader,” said Chakauya.
The late mayor’s brother Amos Masiyatsva described his younger brother as a great leader who demonstrated qualities of a good leader in the family and the community of Redcliff.
“He was a great leader in our family and in the Redcliff community. So it is a great loss to our family and the community as a whole,” he said.
Masiyatsva was born in Chipinge, Musami village in 1979. He went to Musami Primary School and completed his High school education at Batanai High school.
He proceeded to Domboshava Training Institute where he attained a Diploma in Local governance.
He has been a councilor for ward 3 in Redcliff since 2008 and he was elected mayor for two consecutive terms; in 2018 and 2023 respectively.
He served the community of Redcliff for four consecutive terms.
The Mayor took his last breath on Wednesday afternoon at a clinic in Kwekwe after a short illness.
He was 45 years old.
He is survived by his wife and five children.
He will be laid to rest in Chipinge on Saturday.
