by Grace Chekai
The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has foiled a plot by the MDC to second its political activists in the National Local Government Board (LGB).
This follows reports that there was too much interference by MDC politicians and city fathers in the compiling of the possible candidates. Most of the names submitted were reportedly from the opposition MDC.
According to part 8 of the Urban Council`s Act, the Ministry of Local Government appoints members of the LGB from a list of the names submitted by Urban Council`s Association (UCA), Town Clerks, Municipal Workers` Union (MWU) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) through the Minister responsible for PSC.
UCA and MWU submitted known MDC activists and, the two associations are allegedly pro-MDC. UCA leader Josiah Makombe is a known MDC activist.
A contact within the Harare City Council who spoke on condition of anonymity said that most of the names submitted were coming from the MDC. He said the Minister was therefore, hesitant to make the appointments.
The contact also revealed that some of the submitted names did not meet the required qualifications for the LGB.
Contact further revealed that the absence of the LGB had left Harare City Council (HCC) operating with only four senior employees in an acting capacity. He said the previous local board was dissolved in 2017 when its tenure expired.
According to Urban Council`s Act Chapter 29:15, LGB is responsible of appointing and discharging senior urban councils officials.
The positions of Finance Director, Chamber Secretary, Human Capital Director and Harare Water Director were all vacant due to absence of the LGB.
The contact highlighted that Bulawayo was also in the same situation with positions of Human Resources Director, Director Finance Services, Chief Fire officers, Procurement Manager and Internal Auditor being vacant.
The MDC led councils have been accused of destroying cities leading to poor service delivery which has caused constant outbreak of water borne diseases in the country.
One analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity said that appointing more MDC activists in the LGB would lead to further collapse of the urban councils.
