Calls grow for return of executive mayors in Zimbabwe

Calls are growing for Zimbabwe to reinstate its executive mayor system amid concerns that elected mayors and councillors lack the authority needed to effectively run local authorities and address worsening service delivery problems.

The issue resurfaced in Parliament this week, where legislators questioned whether the current local governance structure was contributing to failures in refuse collection, urban management and municipal administration.

Zimbabwe abolished executive mayors in 2008 through the Local Government Laws Amendment Act, replacing them with largely ceremonial mayors while executive powers were transferred to town clerks and council management teams.

Critics have long argued that the system weakens democratic accountability by concentrating operational authority in unelected administrators rather than elected representatives.

During Wednesday's parliamentary question-and-answer session, Joseph Mapiki, the MP for Shamva South, questioned whether adequate measures existed to deal with non-performing local authority officials.

"As a Harare resident I am asking: are there no other measures in place, such as a committee to manage people who are failing to perform their duties properly?" he said.

Responding on behalf of government business, Anxious Masuka acknowledged mounting public frustration over deteriorating service delivery.

"If we continue to give responsibilities to those who have failed to deliver properly, it will not be acceptable," Masuka said, adding that he would raise the issue with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

The debate intensified after Lynette Karenyi Kore argued that mayors and councillors were unfairly blamed for failures despite lacking executive authority.

"Local authorities are supposed to be run by elected officials, yet they lack executive power," she said. "At present, they appear to serve merely a ceremonial role."

Masuka defended the current system, saying council management teams consisted of technical experts responsible for implementing policy decisions made by elected councillors.

However, he acknowledged increasing calls for a return to executive mayors, a system Zimbabwe used in the early 2000s, and said the concerns would be communicated to Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe.

He said any reintroduction of executive mayors would require clarity on the qualifications and competencies needed for the role.

The debate comes as several urban councils continue facing criticism over refuse collection failures, deteriorating infrastructure and water supply challenges.