MUTARE MDC female councillors from all Manicaland rural district councils have blasted chiefs appointed by Zanu (PF) for meddling in their operations. Speaking at a Women In Local Government Forum (WILF) last week, the councillors said interference in their operations by chiefs had impacted negatively on their developmental initiatives.
The continued interference by chiefs in our operations is stifling development in the areas we represent. The chiefs are partisan and they dont want to embrace the new political dispensation. Most MDC-T councillors are targeted and sabotaged in their developmental initiatives, said one councillor from Marange.
Another councilor said the chiefs had barred non-governmental organizations from embarking on developmental project, labelling them agents of imperialists who wanted to topple President Robert Mugabe.
We have negotiated with non governmental organizations to assist us in a number of developmental projects but we are told that you have to ask for permission from the chief who just turns down our requests, said another MDC-T councillor.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator, a Zanu (PF) appointee, Fungai Mbetsa, incensed the delegates by maintaining that councillors must respect chiefs, as they were part of the local governance system in the country.
Post published in: News