Constitution must give residents power over councils

Speaking at a two-day training programme on participatory budgeting held here last week, association representatives said the new governance charter should also contain clauses compelling local authorities to take on board the views of residents on key issues such as the budget. As residents we would have preferred a situation where residents are empowered to recall a councilor if it is felt he or she is underperforming, said a Harare Residents Trust official, Precious Shumba. Under the Urban Councils Act only the Minister of Local Government can dismiss a mayor, councillor or the entire council for non-performance or other offences. The Act empowers the minister to appoint a commission to take over the duties of a dismissed council.

But the legislation does not require the minister to seek permission or approval from residents to either fire a council or appoint a commission in its place an arrangement residents associations say unfairly gives too much power to politicians at the expense of ratepayers. Shumba called for a complete overhaul of the Act to ensure local authorities become more accountable to residents. He said: We feel the Urban Councils Act should be part of the constitution like in other emerging democracies. This will ensure there is more accountability on the part of the councilors, council staff and will give more hope to the residents who pay rates. The workshop organised by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations was attended by residents associations from various towns and cities across the country including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Redcliff and Gwanda. Methusile Mpofu of the Bulawayo United Resident Association (BURA) called on residents to insist on their rights and to demand efficient service delivery from councils.

Mpofu said it was the responsibility of residents to ensure they played an active role in the preparation of city budgets and in town planning. More often residents only get to hear of budgets of their towns and cities well after they are approved. When these issues are being discussed residents would not be aware, and will only cry foul when the budgets are announced. There is need to be proactive, Mpofu said. Stanley Tavengwa of Greater Kadoma Residents and Ratepayers Association concurred with the BURAs Mpofu, saying residents should do more to claim their right to be heard on issues affecting them. Zimbabwes rundown cities and towns are saddled with a host of problems including rampant unemployment and malnutrition among residents after a decade of poor harvests and economic meltdown.

Shortages of water and electricity are common, burst sewers flow unchecked, and roads are littered with potholes, while city housing backlogs run into tens of thousands. City fathers have blamed the collapse of services, facilities and social amenities on Zimbabwes decade-long recession that they say dried out revenue sources. But residents say while this is partly true, the chief causes of the decay of Zimbabwes once beautiful cities remain mismanagement and corruption by local authorities.