…call for the reintroduction of Executive Mayor
Residents in Mutare’s oldest suburb are living in squalid conditions not befitting human habitation as service delivery crumbles at the controversy riddled local municipality, amid calls for the reintroduction of the Executive Mayoral post.
Irate residents vented their anger at the deteriorating service delivery in Sakubva at a Community Dialogue organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe, Mutare Chapter, to bring councilor, residents and media practitioners on a roundtable.
Residents accused government of usurping powers of city fathers by centralizing power into the hands of the Town Clerk a situation which was fueling gross mismanagement of municipality coffers.
They also accused city fathers of failing to manage municipal affairs through lack of prioritization, as they called for protective clothing as they are now cleaning common ablution systems without such essentials.
Causemore Samanga from Gimboki appealed for government to amend the Urban Councils Act and ensure the reinstatement of a Mayor voted for by all residents instead of centralization of power in the Minister of Local Government.
“Government should promulgate a law that ensures that the Executive Mayor comes back, a law that reflects modern trends,” he said.
Samanga said that without this amendment local authorities will continue failing to deliver their mandate as appointed personnel where only worried about political correctness to the Minister.
“The Executive mayor should come back, we are tired of cronies appointed by ministers who come in as Town Clerks and mismanage local affairs while they award each other hefty salaries and allowances.
“It has taken too long for corruption to be exposed yet and we cannot wait for another twenty years before those that are corrupt are exposed,” said Samanga.
Councillors who were present also acceded that they had little control over the management as the current laws allow them to only fire the Town Clerk while other employees were answerable to the Minister.
Councilor for Ward 4 Edson Kalulu said council is facing liquidity challenges to address service delivery issues as he revealed that city father’s hands were tied.
Councilor Edson Kalulu (Ward 4) picture by Gorge Muzimba
He said the crumbling standards of service delivery were because of a Ministerial directive to lay off all contract workers, who were responsible for cleaning and maintaining public toilets.
“As a council we were given a directive by the Minister to lay off all contract workers and we laid off 250 workers who were responsible for the cleaning and mantainance of ablution facilities in the city.
“We are not able to meet the demand of collecting refuse because we have an ageing workforce those that were collecting were affected by the directive,” he said.
A recent audit exposed Mutare city management for fleecing the municipality through exorbitant allowances and bonuses while service delivery dwindled.
MISA Zimbabwe, Mutare Chair, Kenneth Matimaire said such meetings which bring together stakeholders will become a flagship to foster development in urban areas.
He said residents, media practitioners and councilors should meet often to discuss issues in a non-partisan manner.
“Such meetings are important because they bring together stakeholders in service delivery on a roundtable to discuss issues in a non-partisan manner which ensures development for everyone,” he said.
