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Executive mayors face the axe
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
November 07, 2007

The Minister of Local Government, Public works and urban development Dr I Chombo has announced governments' plans to amend the Urban Councils Act (UCA) Chapter 29:15 and remove the post of Executive Mayors. The plan has also been endorsed by the Zanu PF central committee held recently. Presenting his report to Parliament Minister Chombo argued that there was no tangible evidence to show an improvement in the quality of service delivery offered by local authorities since the Mayors came into being.

The post of Executive Mayor was created in 1995 following a repeal of the act that established the UCA 29:15. The government argued then it was creating the post of the mayor in response to the continued deterioration of service delivery in local urban councils. The mayor was supposed to the point person in the management of services for local authorities. He/ She would manage the urban council and would shoulder the responsibility of making sure that quality services are provided. Sadly, local authorities have not been left independent to operate and implement programs without the interference of central government.

The Ministry of Local Government has continued to meddle with the affairs of local authorities. The MDC controlled twelve mayoral posts by the 2002 but it has now eight. Three were from Harare, Chitungwiza and Mutare were unlawfully dismissed on charges of incompetence. The other post was lost in a by election. The government had earlier targeted to control urban voters through mayors and to consolidate their hold on power but as the influence of the opposition grew so did their interference. Local authorities thus failed to perform their duties owing to failure to implement development programs.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) thus views the move to change the Urban Council's Act 29:15 to scrap mayoral posts as lacking strategy. The removal of mayoral posts will not improve service delivery in Harare or any other local authority. The Association is also against the repeal and continued piecemeal amendments of UCA 29:15. In view of the continued downward trend in the quality of Municipal services CHRA recommends a holistic overhaul of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) as opposed to piecemeal amendments. The act in its current form has a lot of structural defects and weaknesses. It gives the Minister of Local Government, Public works and Urban Development sweeping powers to interfere with local authorities. It leaves room for manipulation to feed into party political interests.

The Association is committed to the reform of local governance in Zimbabwe. This shall be done through advocacy directed at the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Ministerial cabinet and various stakeholders interested in the development of local governance. CHRA will continue mobilizing residents and conscientising them on their civic rights and how to demand the. CHRA continues to advocate for enhanced civic participation in matters of local governance.

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