News / National
MDC calls for the resignation of Harare mayor
20 Jan 2015 at 18:25hrs | Views
The MDC Renewal Team notes with serious concern the failure by Harare mayor, Councillor Ben Manyenyeni in providing sound leadership, a situation which has seriously impacted on the delivery of better services in the city and we call on him to take full responsibility as the bark stops with him.
Manyenyeni has been quoted extensively in the media saying that he is failing to run the city effectively because of a number of reasons and excuses that include the insubordination by council employees and interference by Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo.
While we appreciate the fact that Chombo has been meddling in local governance affairs as part of his corruption and patronage network building, which we condemn in the strongest terms, we urge the mayor to do the right thing and resign if he is failing to exercise his authority.
The mayor is quoted in the media, today, lamenting that the Harare City Council has gone on a lavish spending spree in order to acquire more soccer players for Harare City Football Club, for the coming 2015 Premier Soccer season and he had no powers to stop the acquisitions yet he is the patron of the club. It is clear from his statements that Manyenyeni is admitting that he is not in charge and he is only hanging on to the job in order to enjoy the numerous extravagant perks that are awarded to senior local council officials at the expense of better and improved service delivery.
Potholes, uncollected garbage, serious water cuts, absence of street lights and flooding have become the order of the day, yet senior council managers are receiving huge salaries while general workers languish in poverty.
As a pro-poor party, The MDC Renewal Team believes that the Harare City Council has failed the residents and ratepayers who are struggling to make ends meet and Manyenyeni must take full responsibility for the mess we are in.
He should follow the example set by Councillor Norman Markham who resigned as the chairperson of the Harare City Council's finance committee over the non-disclosure of executive salaries, general unaccountability and lack of control of the council finances.
Giving the people of Zimbabwe renewed hope and a servant leadership!!!
Jacob Mafume
National Spokesperson
Manyenyeni has been quoted extensively in the media saying that he is failing to run the city effectively because of a number of reasons and excuses that include the insubordination by council employees and interference by Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo.
While we appreciate the fact that Chombo has been meddling in local governance affairs as part of his corruption and patronage network building, which we condemn in the strongest terms, we urge the mayor to do the right thing and resign if he is failing to exercise his authority.
The mayor is quoted in the media, today, lamenting that the Harare City Council has gone on a lavish spending spree in order to acquire more soccer players for Harare City Football Club, for the coming 2015 Premier Soccer season and he had no powers to stop the acquisitions yet he is the patron of the club. It is clear from his statements that Manyenyeni is admitting that he is not in charge and he is only hanging on to the job in order to enjoy the numerous extravagant perks that are awarded to senior local council officials at the expense of better and improved service delivery.
Potholes, uncollected garbage, serious water cuts, absence of street lights and flooding have become the order of the day, yet senior council managers are receiving huge salaries while general workers languish in poverty.
As a pro-poor party, The MDC Renewal Team believes that the Harare City Council has failed the residents and ratepayers who are struggling to make ends meet and Manyenyeni must take full responsibility for the mess we are in.
He should follow the example set by Councillor Norman Markham who resigned as the chairperson of the Harare City Council's finance committee over the non-disclosure of executive salaries, general unaccountability and lack of control of the council finances.
Giving the people of Zimbabwe renewed hope and a servant leadership!!!
Jacob Mafume
National Spokesperson
Source - Jacob Mafume
