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No to cosmetic local government reforms
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
April 10, 2012

Since last year, parliament has been engaged in a process of pushing for the amendments of the Urban Council's Act [29:15]. The legal reforms have been premised on the perpetual abuse of the Act by the incumbent Minister sighting abuse of office [as empowered by the act], partisan protocols and impunity all against MDC [T&N] councilors. The minister has allegedly abused the act in reversing the losses encountered by his political party of affiliation, ZANU PF in local government elections. ZANU PF lost control of at least 28 urban centres to the two MDC's with the one led by Morgan Tsvangirai dominating the most. However, to date, at least 30 councilors have been either dismissed or suspended by the Minister of Local government with the latest victim being Lionel De Necker who was the bonafide Mayor of Gwanda. De Necker has been suspended for disregarding a Minister's directive which ordered Priscilla Nkala to take up the post of council secretary. Ironically, Priscilla had failed to make it amongst the top three according the interview panel.

A window of opportunity lies in parliament where we are hoping for a meaningful reform of the Act. Unfortunately, those opposed to the winds of change are trying to block the process with ZANU PF blatantly arguing that MDC T is smuggling bills which are not supposed to be discussed in Parliament. To that end, Dr Chombo has proposed that the Ministry of Local government rural and urban development be in charge of local government legislation reform and has also pointed out that the ministry would soon be doing its own consultations. Combined Harare Residents' Association has since dismissed the assertions by the Minister as they are only tantamount to a joke. Minister Chombo cannot be in charge of local government reform because he is an interested party in this whole saga. Zimbabwe cannot entrust the man who has been at the helm of abusing the act with the duty of coming up with reforms that will draw the people closer to their local governments.

We demand that the debate on the act proceeds in the spirit of the initial motion raised and that consultations be done by the parliamentary portfolio committee on local government rural and urban development whilst civil society feeds into that process as well. If there is going to be any reform, it has got to be meaningful and ultra-vires political influence. Chombo is capable of instituting reforms that have got the potential of suffocating the limited democratic space that the current act provides hence the need for him not to be involved.

CHRA and other civil society organization that have an inalienable interest in local government are concerned with the following as stipulated in the act;

• The power of the minister to suspend councilors
• The functions of the local government board
• Appointment of commissions
• The ceremonial status of Mayors
• Council revenue and audits
• Non-recognition of Residents Associations

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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