Gwanda residents reject the proposed local government bill

Gwanda residents rejected the proposed Local Government Laws Amendment Bill which seeks to regulate the operations of councils and give the responsible minister the powers to suspend mayors, councillors and chairpersons.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development was in Gwanda this Tuesday to conduct a public hearing on the proposed bill.

Former Gwanda mayors Rudo Mpofu and Mr Thandeko Zinti Mnkandla were unanimous in rejecting the proposed amendment bill saying councils should be autonomous in their operations while the Gwanda Residents Association questioned the intentions of the amendments.

The Acting Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Joseph Tshuma expressed concern that the contributions of the participants were influenced by their political persuasions.

The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Rural District Councils Act and Urban Councils Act in order to align the provisions of the acts with the constitution.