News / National
Govt proposes minimum educational qualifications for councillor
21 Dec 2012 at 13:53hrs | Views
Government is proposing to introduce minimum educational qualifications for councillors as it has become clear that incompetent candidates have been elected councillors.
Most urban local authorities are dominated by MDC-T councillors who have been accused of corruption and the looting of council resources.
More than 20 councillors have either been suspended or fired and this has prompted government to mull introducing minimum entry qualifications for candidates for these posts in the forthcoming elections.
Local Government Rural and Urban Development Minster, Dr Ignatius Chombo says government is concerned over the calibre of councillors elected in the 2008 harmonised elections who have no idea of their mandate.
"There have been cases of indiscipline amongst the councillors and as the relevant Minister I had to intervene, especially on the dismissal of corrupt councillors. However, as government we feel there is need to introduce minimum qualifications for councillors so that women and men of substance are elected," said Dr Chombo.
Analysts say events unfolding in most MDC-T dominated local authorities where corruption and underhand dealings are rampant, are a clear demonstration to the electorate that the party is not fit to govern.
Some councillors have been fired and suspended for abuse of council resources, house grabbing scams and corrupt tendencies.
Analysts say the clear signal to the electorate is that immature people elected into councils in March 2008 are ignorant of most governance issues.
Minister Chombo also briefed the media on various developments in the local government sector where some local authorities have been able to purchase equipment for recapitalisation, whilst others have failed to deliver efficient services exposing residents to disease such as typhoid and cholera.
Most urban local authorities are dominated by MDC-T councillors who have been accused of corruption and the looting of council resources.
More than 20 councillors have either been suspended or fired and this has prompted government to mull introducing minimum entry qualifications for candidates for these posts in the forthcoming elections.
Local Government Rural and Urban Development Minster, Dr Ignatius Chombo says government is concerned over the calibre of councillors elected in the 2008 harmonised elections who have no idea of their mandate.
"There have been cases of indiscipline amongst the councillors and as the relevant Minister I had to intervene, especially on the dismissal of corrupt councillors. However, as government we feel there is need to introduce minimum qualifications for councillors so that women and men of substance are elected," said Dr Chombo.
Analysts say events unfolding in most MDC-T dominated local authorities where corruption and underhand dealings are rampant, are a clear demonstration to the electorate that the party is not fit to govern.
Some councillors have been fired and suspended for abuse of council resources, house grabbing scams and corrupt tendencies.
Analysts say the clear signal to the electorate is that immature people elected into councils in March 2008 are ignorant of most governance issues.
Minister Chombo also briefed the media on various developments in the local government sector where some local authorities have been able to purchase equipment for recapitalisation, whilst others have failed to deliver efficient services exposing residents to disease such as typhoid and cholera.
Source - zbc
