Kasukuwere accused of micro managing local authorities

Harare Residents Trust has accused the Minister of Local Government Saviour Kasukuwere for micro managing the local authorities after he issued a directive that local authorities must not have seminars outside their areas of jurisdiction.

"Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has given a directive to the local authorities not to have seminars outside their areas of jurisdiction," said the trust.

"This means the local authority will only hold its seminars in venues in its town or surrounding areas, and not waste ratepayers money travelling long distances outside their town or city of jurisdiction."

The Harare Residents Trust said it believes that while this is a noble move, the Minister is undermining the provisions of the Constitution which give local authorities the right to determine their affairs without external influence.

"The Minister is violating the Constitution Section 274 on Urban local authorities which specifies that; there are urban local authorities to represent and manage the affairs of people in urban areas throughout Zimbabwe, urban local authorities are managed by councils composed of councillors elected by registered voters in the urban areas concerned and presided over by elected mayors or chairpersons, by whatever name called," said the trust.

"Minister Kasukuwere is unnecessarily trying to micro manage urban local authorities, undermining the essence of elected councillors, who are elected by the citizens."