'Zanu-PF's populist policies will destroy local authorities'

FORMER local government deputy minister, Sesel Zvidzai says the new Zanu-PF government was likely to destroy the local and urban authorities because of its populist policies.

Zvidzai, a senior MDC-T official, said he feared that all efforts by the inclusive government would go down the drain as the Zanu-PF administration takes over, the Standard reported.

"My own guess is informed by history, their unmatched ability to demolish what serves people. I guess, therefore that we will begin to see retrogression, excessive controls and the decay of governance and services," said Zvidzai.

Outgoing Local Government minister, Ignatius Chombo in July directed local authorities to scrap all outstanding rates as at June 30 2013, in what observers viewed as a vote buying exercise to lure the electorate to Zanu-PF ahead of elections.

Since then, some local authorities have not been able to pay their workers' salaries while service delivery plummeted.

Zvidzai said rural and urban councils faced serious challenges before 2008 but some were addressed by inclusive government.

He said the new government's top priority should be to "actualise the peoples demand for devolution and autonomous sub national governments".