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Bulawayo goes to court over ZINWA take over
Kholwani Nyathi, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
April 01, 2007

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=6196&siteid=1

BULAWAYO — The City Council will take legal action against the government to stop its controversial take-over of water and sewer infrastructure through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), says outgoing town clerk Moffat Ndlovu.

Speaking in an interview on his last day in office on Friday, Ndlovu said the move was "criminal" and would sound the death knell on all local authorities where ZINWA was preparing to move in.

Ndlovu's statement is the first indication that the council is prepared for a long drawn out fight with the government after Vice-President Joseph Msika declared recently that the take-over would go ahead despite protests from residents and the council.

The town clerk said the take-over was "absolutely criminal" and if it had come before his departure ZINWA would not even have managed to "take a pen" belonging to the council.

"The council has vowed to take all legal measures to ensure that we keep what is ours," said Ndlovu. "It is absolutely criminal to just come in and take over our investment."

The outspoken town clerk who is leaving the council after serving it for 24 years took a swipe at the Minister of Water Resources and Infrastructure Development, Munacho Mutezo (pictured), for declaring that even if people of Bulawayo "mention Gukurahundi" the take-over would still go ahead.

"What he used is not the right language for a politician," he said.

Most local authorities would crumble if "the authorities do not see sense and reverse the take overs" because they rely on revenue generated through the provision of water and sewer.

Bulawayo expects to generate 70% of its revenue this year from the sector and if ZINWA is allowed to take over service delivery, Bulawayo will grind to a halt.

Ndlovu had no kind words for the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Ignatious Chombo either.

Chombo has been blamed for the demise of local governance in Harare, Mutare and Chitungwiza. Observers say the only reason he has not descended on Bulawayo is because the city is one of the best run in the country, but the ZINWA take-over was seen as a last-ditch effort by the government to take over the running of the city.

Chombo forced out popularly elected mayors in the three cities who all belonged to the Movement for Democratic Change and imposed politicians with Zanu PF links to run Harare and Mutare.

Running local authorities through "directives" had contributed to the demise of local governance in the country, Ndlovu said.

During his tenure Bulawayo courted Chombo's ire when on several occasions it challenged his directives, such as on the reversal of tariff hikes and the controversial Operation Garikai.

"I think consultation died down with the departure of former deputy minister, Fortune Charumbira," he said. "Consultation is very important because councils have to understand government policies and have a buy into its programmes."

Asked to compare the ministers of local government that he served, Ndlovu said: "(The late) Enos Chikowore didn't interfere much, (Joseph) Msika was a good old man, John Nkomo would consult and as junior as I was, he would ring me and ask for advice."

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