Date: 10 April 2012
Contact: Rodrick Fayayo
Coordinator
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) is shocked that the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo continues to abuse his powers to whimsically dismiss democratically elected local government officials. BPRA is convinced that Minister Chombo may be abusing the excessive powers conferred upon him by the Urban Council’s Act to advance his political interests by unilaterally firing and suspending local government officials belonging to opposition political parties, thus negating the elections that put them into power.
BPRA sees the recent suspension of the Mayor of Gwanda, Lionel De Necker and the Zvishavane Town Council Chairperson, Alluwis Zhou as further indications of the flaws in the Urban Council’s Act, which gives Chombo overbearing powers to interfere in the operations of local authorities. Lionel De Necker was fired under section 114 of the Urban Council’s Act (Chapter 29:15) for allegedly refusing to appoint one Ms Priscilla Nkala as the substantive Chamber Secretary for Gwanda Municipality as had been directed by Minister Chombo. BPRA thus stands by its position that the Urban Council’s Act should be amended to reduce the powers accorded to the Minister of Local Government that are in essence inconsistent with democratic principles of governance.
It is also BPRA’s contention that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government should act as a check and balance on the operations of Minister Chombo as he seems to be on a free reign targeted at municipalities which have refused to bow to his whims and inconsistencies. While BPRA acknowledges that the operations of local authorities should be monitored and corrective actions taken when anomalies are noted, the association believes that Minister Chombo’ actions are being driven by political imperatives as opposed to the quest for transparency and accountability. The association believes it is no coincidence that all local authorities that Minister Chombo has targeted since the turn of the year (including Mutare, Bulawayo, Gwanda and Zvishavane) are run by parties other than that which he belongs to.
Signed
Mr Rodrick Fayayo
Coordinator
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
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