Mutare City Council has resolved to rename a street in the city’s central business district after the country’s late former prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Council made the resolution to rename Second Street after the former opposition MDC honcho, Tsvangirai, for his contribution to the country.

It has since written to the ministry of Local Government for approval after a full council meeting adopted the motion for the name change, moved by councillor Simon Mapuvire.

Mapuvire moved the written motion on April 9.

According to town clerk Joshua Maligwa’s report to a special council meeting on April 16, the councillor moved the motion to recognise Tsvangirai’s “immense contribution towards development in the nation of Zimbabwe”.

The motion sailed through the MDC-dominated council without opposition from their rivals in Zanu-PF.

Mapuvire argued that Tsvangirai was an “icon of Zimbabwe” who made immeasurable contributions to the country.

He said the recognition was in line with how eminent personalities have been honoured by the border city.

Mapuvire said this was “taking into account the fact that Main Street in Mutare was named after liberation war hero Herbert Wilshire Chitepo”.

In terms of the law, roads and locations can be named after the dead, fauna and flora, among other things.

Tsvangirai died in South Africa in February at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer of the colon.

He was born on March 10, 1952 in Gutu, Masvingo province. daily news