Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Sesil Zvidzai, said by measuring the development and improvement in urban municipal councils since 2008, it is possible to see the hard work done by councillors.
“Usually when all is not well in the city, council residents demonstrate and make noise but this time around residents have been quiet,” he said.
Zvidzai said when a company failed, the management must be interrogated and not the workers.
“There is total disorder in the local governance of this country from the Minister of Local government, Ignatius Chombo, down to the last man in the council, mainly due to the partisan approach. The Minister has systematically appointed Zanu (PF) losers of the 2008 polls as special councillors who act as bullies and spies in the municipal structures to reverse progress and development,” he said.
Zvidzai added that the special councillors and top municipal officials who were planted by Zanu (PF) identified MDC councillors who are then put on Chombo’s firing list.
“All the investigation teams meant to interrogate councillors are Zanu (PF) supporters unilaterally appointed by him (Chombo),” he said. “The truth is, through the provision of Cabinet, he has to consult with me but not necessarily take my advice in decision making. The permanent solution is to totally change the government and the way of doing things,” Zvidzai added.
He said Chombo had called for educated councillors yet removed the laws that set such standards.
“In 2008, he amended the law put in place by the late Vice President John Nkomo that mayors and other politicians in the councils must be educated and have experience in local governance and replaced it with anyone can grab policy,” he said.
Zvidzai said Chombo favoured rural councils where Zanu (PF) was a stronghold by allocating them resources and ignoring corruption.
“The Minister assists the rural councils where there is a lot of corruption and where councillors are abusing funds for self-gain at the expense of service delivery,” he said.
“Last year we were allocated $73 million by Treasury and received 60 percent of the amount and nothing went to urban councils. If the ministry fails people must blame the head and not the authorities, a fish starts to rot from the head,” he added.
Post published in: News