MDC-T leadership must act quickly to deal with corrupt councilors: Chombo

The Local Government, Urban and Rural Development minister Ignatius Chombo said he feels vindicated after accusations by MDC-T that he was a meddler. He spoke after MDC-T's announced its decision to investigate its councillors suspected of corruption.

The minister - since the emergence of MDC-T controlled councils ' has used his powers to fire councilors and mayors from the former opposition party accusing them of corruption and incompetence.

Harare, Chitungwiza and Mutare are some of the councils that suffered from the Zanu PF minister's wrath.

Chombo is accused of trying to dilute the MDC-T dominated councils through the back door after Zanu PF candidates lost in elections.

MDC-T has often cited Chombo's decisions to fire councillors and replace them with Zanu PF-aligned commissioners as one of the reasons the capital city is in doldrums.

"They thought I was politicking and I say the sooner they commission the probe team the better."

Chombo said the MDC-T leadership must act quickly to deal with corrupt councilors and make their findings public.

MDC-T's national executive council last week resolved to "set up committees to investigate and audit each of the councilors and set up councils that will consider issues of good governance, accountability and policy consistency".

The party said it would fire all councilors found on the wrong side of the law.

An investigation commissioned by council last year revealed Zanu PF politicians had taken advantage of the last commission led by Sekesai Makwavarara to illegally acquire vast tracts of land in the capital.

Chombo has tried to stop the Harare council from investigating the scam further.