Councillors live in fear of Chombos spies

Elected Councillors Association of Zimbabwe (ECAZ) Chairman, Worship Dumba said many who were legitimately elected wee aware of the machinations of the so-called special interests councillors appointed by Chombo. They should not be there. They are nothing but informers who, after council meetings, rush to inform their bosses what has been discussed in the meeting, said Dumba.
Chombo, using his enormous powers derived from the Urban Councils Act, has fired elected mayors who are ethical and honest, and has left in power the corrupt elements who pander to his whims. The minister is very fond of protecting the corrupt while he fires people who are principled, said Dumba.
According to Statutory Instrument 79/2010, Chombo has powers to appoint special interest councillors in all the countrys local authorities in line with section 4A of the Urban Councils Act, which was amended in January 2008. However, there have been wide concerns that the appointed councillors do not represent any special interest group but are rather Chombos strategy to dilute the MDC-T dominated councils.
The Urban Councils Act does not involve the electorate in the running of the affairs of local authorities. This has resulted in the Minister of Local Government deciding on behalf of the electorate. We cant have the Minister having power to appoint loosing candidates in the name of Special Interest councillors against the will of the electorate. We want it to provide for the consultation of the electorate in their respective wards when appointing a special interest councillor, said Dumba.