'Service delivery stalled by recycled leaders'

Service delivery at most of the country's public institutions is being stalled by "old, recycled leaders", some of whom have been in government since Independence in 1980, MDC Renewal Team spokesperson Jacob Mafume has said.

Mafume made the remarks during a Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA) public discussion on water meters at a Harare hotel on Thursday where he was one of the panelists.

Several things are not working in this country because they have old people leading us old judges, old police bosses, an old Registrar-General, and an old President - and there is nothing dangerous like being led by old persons, Mafume said.

"There is poor delivery of water because town clerk Tendai Mahachi is old, and age is a sickness which cannot be healed. It is worse than HIV.

These old leaders spent 90 years drinking clean water and now they want to privatise water on youngsters. We have a problem."

In apparent reference to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri's collapse last August during a passout parade officiated by President Robert Mugabe, Mafume said: "They think for two days and some of their body parts do not even work, which means even their brains are not working, resulting in some policemen fainting while guarding the President."

Mafume also said councillors affiliated to his party would step down if installation of prepaid water meters was implemented.