Taurai Masamba
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that following two decades of failure by opposition concillors to run urban local authorities properly, the electorate should replace them with ZANU PF ones during this month’s by-elections.
The President was addressing thousands of people who thronged Pfupajena Stadium in Chegutu for a Presidential star rally on Friday ahead of the by-elections scheduled for the 26th this month.
President Mnangagwa expressed concern that despite Government’s efforts to assist urban local authorities with financial resources through the devolution policy to enable them to provide better services to their residents, most of them were failing.
“Some councils sit down and buy refuse collection vehicles, refuse bins or other assets but we are giving them (devolution) funds to ensure that your urban areas are clean. After assessing the situation, I realised that local authorities from Harare, Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Bulawayo, Gwanda and others are deteriorating. What is the cause of this? There are two issues. Firstly, it is those who are running these local authorities. If I identify them as MDC it would be wrong because the party has many formations, so I’ll just say those whom you know to be in opposition,” the President said.
The President highlighted that the forthcoming by-elections were an opportunity to replace opposition councillors with ZANU PF candidates.
“For the past 20 years they have excelled at failure. I normally say if you are not good at something despite having gone to school, go back to the school and demand a refund of your school fees because the school failed you. Now is the time to vote in those who are able to run our urban areas. It is you who are able. It is you ZANU PF members who are able. It is you who should be voted into local authorities as councillors,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President told the gathering that next year Government would enact a law to ensure that only prospective candidates with proven track records of serving the people would contest in local election polls starting with next year’s general elections.
“You should, however, know that being a ZANU PF member is not an automatic ticket for election candidature. A new law is coming next year under which prospective ward councillor candidates will be assessed to establish their performance records. For those who are aspiring to be local authority election candidates for next year’s general elections, introspect first before offering to lead others as the law is definitely coming,” President Mnangagwa said to frenzied ululation and whistling by the attendees.
Five ward seats are set be contested for during the forthcoming by-election in Chegutu Municipality, while a total of 17 wards will be contested for in Mashonaland West Province. These are in Chegutu Rural District Council, Chegutu Municipality, Chinhoyi Municipality, Karoi Town Council and Zvimba Rural District Council. The Province has no House of Assembly by-elections.
Prior to the rally, the President led in the National Clean Up Campaign by cleaning at the Community Development Centre in town’s Kaguvi high density suburb. The President also planted a sausage tree (Kigela Africana/ mumvee) at the centre.
