MDC already at work taking over all urban councils

By Eddie Cross, MDC Member of Parliament  

BULAWAYO – I take the fact that the MDC has not walked out of the talks in South Africa as a sign they are making progress, and I think

this progress is towards a transitional government that will be led by the

MDC. Another feature of this situation is that for the first time the AU and the SADC have guaranteed the implementation of the agreements reached in the talks.

Meanwhile, we must not lose sight of what is going on here at home. After four months the local government councils are being sworn into office and as I write, the MDC has taken over the administration of all urban councils in the country. Since 60 per cent of

the population lives in the urban areas, this means that the majority of the

people now live under an MDC-controlled administration.

We still have to contend with Ignatius Chombo who continues to pretend he is the

Minister and in charge. He was defeated in the elections on March 29

and holds his portfolio only because the Zanu (PF) leadership has tried to

hold onto power for as long as possible – illegally. At best he is a

caretaker administrator, and most probably the new Minister will come from the MDC.

We also control a significant number of the Rural District Councils and in

all hold 700 of these posts throughout the country. Where Zanu (PF) controls

the councils in the rural areas they will soon discover that they are under

new management from a central government point of view.

This gives the MDC its first real chance to start to make a difference in people’s lives. Our Secretary for Local Government is about to go full time with a small staff to start coordinating what the councils will be doing.

The MDC is a Party of the poor. So many urban areas find themselves with councilors who are drawn from street vendors, blue-collar workers and even the unemployed. In my district I have two councilors – one a retired lady with very sparse resources and no

transport and the other a vendor also with few resources. They are, however

both excellent individuals and I am looking forward to working with them.

We have huge challenges: many urban centers are short of water; roads are

in an appalling state; mass transit systems non-functional; effluent systems

broken down; people are not properly housed; staff are demoralized, financial systems have broken down, assets looted and there are many political appointees who are not going to welcome the new administration.

Once the transitional government is in place (in August?) then we can

really start to do things – especially if the new arrangements reflect the

March elections and are accepted by the international community.

In anticipation of a new day dawning, I say to every Zimbabwean – at home or

abroad, get involved.

This morning I went to Hillside Dams. There a group of local businessmen plus a motley collection of volunteers are cleaning them up – they have been given a lease over 45 hectares and are building a restaurant, picnic sites and cleaning up the gardens and the amenities such as toilets. The roads and paths are being repaired. When I left there were

many cars in the parking area, hundreds of kids and adults playing in open

areas and many braai fires going with a smell of wors and steak.

If you are outside the country – adopt a councilor and support him or her

with funds to run a small office and meet their expenses.  

A group of businessmen are right now forming a Trust to mobilize the whole

business community behind community development and the strengthening of the

democracy we are building.

They are identifying projects – small and large, that can be tackled by the public

and the private sector to their mutual benefit. One group in Bulawayo is

doing a joint venture with the City to manage and recycle wastewater.

We have a country to rebuild – not had a chance to do anything up to now

because of the crazy politics and the imbecilic economics.  The international community will help us get back on our feet and after that it is up to us – we are a rich country

made poor by bad leadership. That must never happen again.