Ratepayers want Chombos powers clipped

Bikita East legislator Kenneth Matimba, who chairs the committee, said residents told the committee during public hearings that the immense powers granted Chombo under the Urban Councils Act were hampering effective administration of cities and towns with the minister often disregarding the wishes of residents or their elected representatives.

“Many residents lamented that the Urban Councils Act (UCA) was a draconian piece of legislation which hampered effective and efficient development of local authorities,” Matimba told the House on Thursday. He added: “They recommended the amendment of some sections of the Act, particularly those that gave too much power to the Minister of Local Government and disregarded council committees. It was alleged that Sections 88 and 122 indicated that the Act had no regard for the residents associations.

Matimba also told Parliament that inquiries by his committee revealed gross incompetence and dereliction of duty in the three local authorities. He said in his report to Parliament that there was, “total laxity and gross negligence by the councils executive; voluntary disregard and disrespect of the council by-laws by private developers who pursued self-aggrandisement at the expense of residents.

The Zimbabwean on Sunday understands the MDC is mulling assigning one of its legislators to table a private members bill proposing an overhaul of the UCA to whittle down the local government ministers powers and ensure local authorities are answerable to ratepayers. The UCA empowers Chombo to fire local councils for gross incompetence or misconduct and appoint commissions in their place.

The provision has allowed Chombo to exercise near total control of Zimbabwes urban councils including those run by MDC mayors. Chombo has not hesitated to fire elected councils that are not aligned to his Zanu (PF) party and replacing them with commissions packed by his allies.