No to cosmetic local govt reforms

By The Standard | Apr. 15, 2012

Since last year, parliament has been engaged in a process of pushing for the amendments of the Urban Councils Act (29:15). The legal reforms have been premised on the perpetual abuse of the Act by the incumbent minister, Ignatius Chombo, citing abuse of office (as empowered by the Act), partisan protocols and impunity all against MDC (T&N) councillors. The minister has allegedly abused the Act in reversing the losses suffered 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 MDCs with the one led by Morgan Tsvangirai dominating most. However, to date, at least 30 councillors have been either dismissed or suspended by the Local Government minister with the latest victim being Lionel De Necker, who was the bonafide Mayor of Gwanda. De Necker was suspended for disregarding a minister’s directive which ordered that Priscilla Nkala take up the post of council secretary. Ironically, Priscilla had failed to make it among the top three candidates, according to the interview panel.

A window of opportunity lies in parliament where we are hoping for a meaningful reform of the Act. Unfortunately, those who are supposed to spearhead the change are trying to block the process with Zanu PF arguing that MDC-T is smuggling in bills which are not supposed to be discussed in parliament.

To that end, Chombo has proposed that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development be in charge of local government legislation reform and has also indicated that the ministry would soon be doing its own consultations. Combined Harare Residents’ Association has since dismissed the assertions by the minister as 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 while 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 organisations that have an interest in local government are concerned with the following:

The power of the minister to suspend councillors, The functions of the local government board,Appointment of commissions, The ceremonial status of mayors, Council revenue and audits and non-recognition of Residents Associations.

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)

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