The ManicaPost
Municipal Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations of Residents Trusts (ZNOART) has expressed concern over the way in which some councillors are using their positions to line up their pockets at the expense of service delivery.
In a statement, ZNOART chairperson, Mr Shalvar Chakomba said local authorities have been transformed into havens of corruption, poor water reticulation, uncollected refuse and burst sewerage systems.
He also said parcelling out of land and other forms of corruption are foiling the country’s efforts to attain Vision 2030.
“Corruption, misappropriation of funds, illegal land invasions and criminal abuse of office are some of the ills that have rocked most urban councils, with several councillors and council officials being arraigned before the courts,” said Mr Chakomba.
His sentiments come at a time when some of Mutare’s city fathers recently appeared in court for allegedly inflating their allowances above the rates stipulated in a Ministerial directive, thereby prejudicing the local authority of $12 million.
The Mayor, Simon Chabuka; former Mayor, Blessing Tandi; councillors, Farai Bhiza, Elizabeth Tsuro, Zwenyika Misi, Daniel Saunyama, Tsitsi Ziweya, Nomore Nyanhanda, Exavia Upare, Sekai Cathrine Mukodza, Thomas Nyamupanedengu and Calvin Matsiya were granted $40 000 bail each when they appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboa.
The matter is still pending before the courts.
Local authorities now have a penchant of organising workshops and seminars outside their areas of jurisdictions, with some of them travelling to as far as Masvingo and Victoria Falls at a time when residents are up in arms with them over poor service delivery.
In that regard, Mr Chakomba said: “As residents, we are therefore demanding that all council workshops be done locally in their respective cities until such a time when service delivery improves. Through our network of representatives across the country’s administrative local authorities, ZNOART continues to receive disturbing news about the rot and corruption that haunts many councils in Zimbabwe .
“From cites like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, ZNOART is calling for forensic and life style audits to be conducted on all current employees, former and long-serving council and municipal officials. We are concerned that there are cabals which are lining their pockets through land parcelling and tender scams.
“Land barons who have invaded our wetlands and land reserved for recreational facilities are causing havoc everywhere with evidence that they work hand in glove with council officials,” said Mr Chakomba.
He added: As residents, we await for the day when these land barons and the council officials will be brought to book for fleecing residents of their hard-earned investments.
Land barons have no space in our communities, they should be in jail. We call upon the judiciary to deal with these cases as a matter of urgency.”
