Minister's powers to be whittled down

The powers of Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing will be whittled down, while municipal police will have powers to arrest violators of by-laws and have them jailed for six months or pay a fine of up to US$200 if a proposed Local Authority Draft Bill passes into law.

The Bill proposes an independent tribunal to be set up for the purposes of removing councillors from office unlike the Urban Councils Act, that vested all the powers in the hands of the Minister in charge of local authorities.

"For the purposes of removing from office of councillors of local authority from office, it is hereby established an independent tribunal. (1) The Independent Tribunal shall consist of: (a) A chairperson appointed by the President, who shall be a registered legal practitioner who has been in practice for not less than five years," reads part of the draft bill.

Other members recommended to the President by the chairperson will be appointed from time to time as each case arises.

The other members, according to the proposed bill, should be local government administrators with not less than five years' experience and or accountants with not less than five years' experience.