Minister Mandi Chimene's stance laudable

The recent claim by Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Mandi Chimene that all corrupt Mutare City Council management should be arrested is a positive idea which should be commended.

Most councillors aligned to opposition MDC-T party are failing to provide quality service to the citizens in their communities due to corruption. Hence, Minister Chimene is spot-on on the issue of actioning a total overhaul at Mutare City Council.

The audit report that was carried out at that local authority opened a can of worms which forced its Town Clerk, Obert Muzawazi out of office. Truth be told, the law should be applied and take its course regardless of the person's background. Most people will agree with this author that those who break the law should be sentenced. The rule of law must stay in its pathway.

Quoted in a local daily press, Minister Chimene rightly pointed out that "We can't have a nation where people commit crime and go unpunished…they must go". All city councillors who may be engaging in any corrupt activities should stop it and take heed of what Cde Chimene alleged. There is really need for all municipalities to either shape in or ship out.

It is better off to pluck the bad apples before they spoil the whole basket, so as corrupt officials. If nothing is done about corruption, it usually gets worse. It is imperative to note that corruption is not only morally and legally unacceptable but it also leads to lower economic growth in any given country. The economy needs to revive, but corruption in city councils is derailing all the efforts.  The effects of corruption are that it only benefits a handful of individuals while the majority of suffers.

The public may think that Cde Chimene has gone bonkers, but alas, the rules of the land should be observed without fail. The gospel of zero tolerance to corruption has been preached now and then and it's still being preached. Those who put sticks in their ears whilst the gospel of corruption is being sermonized should be severely punishment.

Most MDC-T councillors are being involved in underhand deals as a way of sabotaging government operations. MDC-T councillors have been always hiding behind the finger accusing Government for their poor services.  As such, one would then be made to believe that the desire by MDC-T councillors to poorly deliver their services in towns and cities is done intentionally.

Most desperate home seekers were daylight robbed of their funds in various land deals. Some home seekers were made to pay stands allocated at unlawful places whilst others were double allocated.

Early this year, MDC-T secretary for local government, Eddie Cross honestly admitted that their party has not been providing its councillors with information that assists them to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently. Admittance of failure by Cross means, there is need to consider eliminating all corrupt councillors and replace them with people who dedicated.

The unfortunate aspect is that most councillors especially from MDC-T lacks political will in their way of doing business. After the audit was done and exposed, Mutare City Council management could have stopped paying themselves hefty allowances. The management was even warned by government against such benefits. However, the management at that local authority ignored Government's order and proceeded with their crooked tricks.

The stance that is being taken by Minister Chimene should be taken to all city councils with officials who are defrauding their respective cities. In actual fact, other councillors should take a leaf from Cde Chimene's efforts of cleaning up all the dirty council management.