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Minister Chombo’s decision to suspend councillors deplorable
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 02, 2004

The continued government’s intrusion in the running of the affairs of the City of Harare since the assumption of office by a democratically elected Council in March 2002 is a serious cause for concern. The interference smacks of government’s utter hypocrisy on its commitment to democracy.

Crisis Coalition is deeply concerned about the latest development at the City of Harare, which has resulted in the suspension of 13 councillors for allegedly defying state directives not to elect a new deputy mayor.

The Coalition views the decision by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo to suspend the 13 councillors as arbitrary and an affront to democratic principles and peaceful co-existence between the ruling ZANU PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The decision by Minister Chombo also runs in the face of concerted efforts by civic and church leaders to bring the two warring parties to the negotiating table meant to solve the political and governance crisis affecting the country since the February 2000 constitutional referendum and the subsequent violent June 2000 parliamentary elections.

The Urban Councils Act allows the councilors to elect a deputy mayor and chairpersons of committees after every year and Sekesai Makwavarara's term expired last August. Therefore, in terms of the law the councillors had a legal and legitimate right to elect councillor Christopher Mushonga and committee chairpersons.

The errant behaviour by the Minister does harm service delivery to the ratepayers and scares away investors. We believe that the problems affecting Harare would not end if the minister refuses to work with an elected leadership at Town House and opts to relate to a leader whose legitimacy has expired both at law and politically.

While it is clear that the minister administers the Act, it should be noted that his role is to give policy guidelines and not administrative directives. We call upon the minister and those interested in the proper administration of the city to strictly follow the provisions of the Act in what ever they do. This, we believe will create a proper working environment that will benefit the residents and ratepayers.

The Coalition once again reiterates that the government must restore law and order at Town House and show our ability as a nation to put aside our narrow political interests. The chaos at Town House followed government’s dismissal of Engineer Elias Mudzuri, the executive mayor of Harare.

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