Staff Reporter

Urban dwellers have been cautioned to vote for candidates that deliver service instead of voting for a party.  This comes ahead of the by-elections slated for March this year.

Speaking through a press statement, Chairperson of the Harare Residents Trust, Precious Shumba, reminded the urban dwellers of the squalid conditions they are currently living under due to their emotional voting.

“The upcoming by-elections in local authorities present Zimbabwean rate players with a great opportunity to rise above emotional partisan political choices and elect capable individuals who have the mind set, attitude, experience and capacity to serve the ratepayers,” said Shumba

Exposing the rot that is synonymous with the MDC Alliance councillors that had been voted into office, Shumba said, undeserving, incompetent and very corrupt political party activists became councillors.

“Some of these incompetent councillors became so corrupt that they became untouchable and unaccountable to the ratepayers as they pursued their personal interests, especially in land allocations and creating low-level job opportunities for their party activists.

“It is in light of the demands of the ratepayers that the HRT issues this press statement in order to reinforce the aspirations of ratepayers to have responsive, capable, experienced and upright councillors,” said Shumba.

Meanwhile, the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa had control of most urban areas, since the year 2000, and from that time the service delivery in urban cities has deteriorated to unmatched levels.  In 2013 two MDC Mayors were demoted from office, Mutare Mayor, Tatenda Nhemarare and Gweru Mayor, Hamutendi Komayi for bribery, in Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume was fired for corruption and abuse of office.