Taurai Demo

Service / Career

2011 – 2013 – Deputy Mayor, Gweru.
2019 - Finance and Administration Officer, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association

Events

After a special council meeting in January 2012, Gweru City Council reinstated 37 of 45 suspended workers, a development confirmed by deputy mayor Taurai Demo. The workers were suspended late 2011 (among them five workers’ committee leaders), over allegations of organising an illegal strike to press for payment of outstanding salaries and bonuses. Council held hearings in December which spilled over into January. Two were found guilty and given warnings, 39 were found not guilty. A special council meeting held in January resolved to fire eight of the employees three of whom were contract workers.

“We are not happy that the city has gone through this, however, the residents will not also be happy if we do not discipline the workers.” ^[1]

In January 2012, a soldier, Warrant Officer Class Two Major Chitsiko, committed suicide by taking a pesticide at Town House, after making accusations that his wife was having an extra-marital affair with Gweru City Deputy Mayor Councillor Taurai Demo. The soldier was based at Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA). Mrs Chitsiko was employed at the Gweru City Council as a secretary to the chamber secretary. Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana confirmed the incident. ZMA public relations officer Warrant Officer Onias Maphisa confirmed the death of Chitsiko.

Chitsiko, in full combat uniform, stormed Town House armed with a machete and demanded to see his wife and the deputy mayor. Sources said Mrs Chitsiko had just separated with her husband after he assaulted her over the alleged extra-marital affair with the deputy mayor. It was 1700 and most people had quite for the day. He went into the council chambers where he then drank some pesticide from a bottle from his uniform pocket. ^[2]

It was reported in Janaury 2013, that deputy mayor Taurai Demo, bought a stand from Council in January 2012, using Zimbabwe Dollars, that ceased to be of value in 2009. ^[3]

GRRA has secured an office to operate from, following a donation by Gweru based businessman who owns the leading Aspirations flea markets, Taurai Demo, in June 2018. GRRA was operating at number 6 Bedford Road but due to financial constraints they realized that it was no longer ideal to use the office.

President of GRRA Cornelius Seliphiwe thanked Taurai Demo for giving their organization a helping hand. “Thank you to Mr Demo for realizing our organization as a community driven and we are going to benefit from this office, the place is very convenient as we will interact with the retailers in the flea market and address their plight.” ^[4]