News / Local
Chombo to investigate Gwanda Mayor, MDC lashes out
23 Apr 2012 at 10:31hrs | Views
The Movement for Democratic Change led by Professor Welshman Ncube alleges that it has received information on the appointment of a team to investigate the Mayor of Gwanda Lionel De Necker. The MDC said it is concerned at the cancerous abuse record of office by Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatious Chombo whose partisan actions are clearly aimed at undermining the will of the people.
The MDC says it is not amused though not bewildered at the suspicious composition of the team as it is in keeping with the general strategy long adopted by Minister Chombo as Zanu-PF's point person in the destabilisation of the urban councils over which they have no electoral mandate.
"It is curious though that despite the presence of highly qualified and experienced people in local government and related matters in the region in general and Matabeleland South in particular, Minister Chombo chose his kith and kin that have lack of depth on the issues that pertain to Gwanda," said MDC in a press statement.
The MDC says it sadly notes that the cost of investigating Gwanda's innocent mayor that will be paid by the citizens is very high considering the travel, accommodation and other allowances to be used by the investigation team.
"We wish to put it on record that this team as chosen by Chombo is highly contemptuous of the citizens of Gwanda and smirks of 'a job for the boys' type venture" said MDC.
"We are concerned at the now cancerous record abuse of office by Minister Chombo. His partisan actions are clearly aimed at undermining the will of the people. The party is concerned at the continued sacrifice of the democratic values at the altar of political expedience. We deplore as a party any use of public institutions to accommodate unqualified members of political parties, never in our lives will we allow any public institution to be used as a vehicle for corrupt tendencies."
"The MDC wishes to make it known that we are keeping all our options open and that we are monitoring closely the developments in Gwanda. We will not allow any attempt that seeks to derail the march to a just and fair Zimbabwe in which we fully embrace and celebrate our diversity," concluded the MDC statement.
Chombo has been accused of embarking on a crusade to fire or suspend urban council officials on trumped up charges to destabilise the opposition ahead of the forth - coming elections.
Chombo's deputy Sesel Zvidzai said the minister has suspended or dismissed eight mayors and 16 councillors since 2009 in what he described as a strategy to destabilise the councils so that the local authorities fail to perform to residents' expectations ahead of elections this year or in 2013.
Zvidzai said most of the suspensions or dismissals were not only partisan but unlawful and unprocedural. "The ultimate goal is to create an impression of failure for these councils," said Zvidzai. "Chombo hopes very foolishly that this strategy will harvest some votes for exceedingly unpopular Zanu-PF at the next elections."
Among the mayors that have either been suspended or dismissed by Chombo, are Brian James of Mutare, Tinashe Madamombe of Bindura, Lionel de Necker of Gwanda and Zvi-shavane town council chairman Alluwis Zhou.
A Bulawayo-based pressure group has appealed to Parliament to stop Chombo from interfering with operations of local authorities. In a letter addressed to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government committee chairperson, Lynette Karenyi, the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) coordinator Rodrick Fayayo, pleaded to the committee to stop Chombo's alleged victimisations of mayors and councillors.
"It is BPRA's contention that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government should act as a check and balance on the operations of Minister Chombo as he seems to be on a free reign targeted at municipalities which have refused to bow to his whims and inconsistencies," wrote Fayayo.
He said while BPRA agreed that councils must be supervised, "Chombo's actions are being driven by political motives as opposed to the quest for transparency and accountability."
The MDC says it is not amused though not bewildered at the suspicious composition of the team as it is in keeping with the general strategy long adopted by Minister Chombo as Zanu-PF's point person in the destabilisation of the urban councils over which they have no electoral mandate.
"It is curious though that despite the presence of highly qualified and experienced people in local government and related matters in the region in general and Matabeleland South in particular, Minister Chombo chose his kith and kin that have lack of depth on the issues that pertain to Gwanda," said MDC in a press statement.
The MDC says it sadly notes that the cost of investigating Gwanda's innocent mayor that will be paid by the citizens is very high considering the travel, accommodation and other allowances to be used by the investigation team.
"We wish to put it on record that this team as chosen by Chombo is highly contemptuous of the citizens of Gwanda and smirks of 'a job for the boys' type venture" said MDC.
"We are concerned at the now cancerous record abuse of office by Minister Chombo. His partisan actions are clearly aimed at undermining the will of the people. The party is concerned at the continued sacrifice of the democratic values at the altar of political expedience. We deplore as a party any use of public institutions to accommodate unqualified members of political parties, never in our lives will we allow any public institution to be used as a vehicle for corrupt tendencies."
"The MDC wishes to make it known that we are keeping all our options open and that we are monitoring closely the developments in Gwanda. We will not allow any attempt that seeks to derail the march to a just and fair Zimbabwe in which we fully embrace and celebrate our diversity," concluded the MDC statement.
Chombo has been accused of embarking on a crusade to fire or suspend urban council officials on trumped up charges to destabilise the opposition ahead of the forth - coming elections.
Chombo's deputy Sesel Zvidzai said the minister has suspended or dismissed eight mayors and 16 councillors since 2009 in what he described as a strategy to destabilise the councils so that the local authorities fail to perform to residents' expectations ahead of elections this year or in 2013.
Zvidzai said most of the suspensions or dismissals were not only partisan but unlawful and unprocedural. "The ultimate goal is to create an impression of failure for these councils," said Zvidzai. "Chombo hopes very foolishly that this strategy will harvest some votes for exceedingly unpopular Zanu-PF at the next elections."
Among the mayors that have either been suspended or dismissed by Chombo, are Brian James of Mutare, Tinashe Madamombe of Bindura, Lionel de Necker of Gwanda and Zvi-shavane town council chairman Alluwis Zhou.
A Bulawayo-based pressure group has appealed to Parliament to stop Chombo from interfering with operations of local authorities. In a letter addressed to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government committee chairperson, Lynette Karenyi, the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) coordinator Rodrick Fayayo, pleaded to the committee to stop Chombo's alleged victimisations of mayors and councillors.
"It is BPRA's contention that the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government should act as a check and balance on the operations of Minister Chombo as he seems to be on a free reign targeted at municipalities which have refused to bow to his whims and inconsistencies," wrote Fayayo.
He said while BPRA agreed that councils must be supervised, "Chombo's actions are being driven by political motives as opposed to the quest for transparency and accountability."
Source - Byo24News
