News / Press Release
MDC hails the local government ministry - Lionel De Necker
10 Oct 2014 at 14:14hrs | Views
Press Statement
It is that time of the year when residents across Zimbabwe are again being invited by local councils to take part in Council Budget consultative meetings.
The MDC hails the local government ministry for this initiative of including residents in such an important exercise as residents are for all intents and purposes the funders of local councils. We hope this is genuine.
The MDC has observed, with great concern over the years that residents have been reduced to mere spectators in the budget consultative process as their wishes have neither been implemented nor protected. It is our hope that this time around, these budget consultations will not just be a smokescreen by the Local government ministry to try and give an impression of inclusivity while continuing to make unilateral decisions. To avoid this mischief in future, we encourage citizens throughout the country to not only actively participate in these budget consultative meetings as advertised by councils but to go further to monitor the implementation of their input and demand service delivery commensurate with the requirements of a progressive state.
We believe that for balanced growth and quality service delivery to be achieved, resource allocation and prioritization as expressed in a budget is of paramount importance. That is why as MDC we continue to urge government to implement devolution so as to transfer power, functions and resources to the sub- national levels of government in order to promote participatory democracy and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens. We insist that devolution is key to good governance through increased residents participation in key priority decisions on development such as expressed through their local authorities budgetary process. Transparency, genuine inclusivity and implementation of the views and wishes of residents is key.
The MDC is glad that the Councils' promise to include residents in the budget formulation process is embedded in the national contract, the constitution, so that when they do not live up to them, citizens can seek redress, not only in the courts of public opinion, but in the courts of law.
The continued desire to micromanage councils by central government has given bred and harbored high levels of corruption within councils due to limited residents participation. As the MDC we remain steadfast in our belief that there must be no compromise on delivery on the critical areas which include but not limited to water, housing, and road maintenance.
The penchant for luxury and ostentation by council executives throughout the country at the expense of rate payers should be stopped forthwith.
It is that time of the year when residents across Zimbabwe are again being invited by local councils to take part in Council Budget consultative meetings.
The MDC hails the local government ministry for this initiative of including residents in such an important exercise as residents are for all intents and purposes the funders of local councils. We hope this is genuine.
The MDC has observed, with great concern over the years that residents have been reduced to mere spectators in the budget consultative process as their wishes have neither been implemented nor protected. It is our hope that this time around, these budget consultations will not just be a smokescreen by the Local government ministry to try and give an impression of inclusivity while continuing to make unilateral decisions. To avoid this mischief in future, we encourage citizens throughout the country to not only actively participate in these budget consultative meetings as advertised by councils but to go further to monitor the implementation of their input and demand service delivery commensurate with the requirements of a progressive state.
We believe that for balanced growth and quality service delivery to be achieved, resource allocation and prioritization as expressed in a budget is of paramount importance. That is why as MDC we continue to urge government to implement devolution so as to transfer power, functions and resources to the sub- national levels of government in order to promote participatory democracy and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens. We insist that devolution is key to good governance through increased residents participation in key priority decisions on development such as expressed through their local authorities budgetary process. Transparency, genuine inclusivity and implementation of the views and wishes of residents is key.
The MDC is glad that the Councils' promise to include residents in the budget formulation process is embedded in the national contract, the constitution, so that when they do not live up to them, citizens can seek redress, not only in the courts of public opinion, but in the courts of law.
The continued desire to micromanage councils by central government has given bred and harbored high levels of corruption within councils due to limited residents participation. As the MDC we remain steadfast in our belief that there must be no compromise on delivery on the critical areas which include but not limited to water, housing, and road maintenance.
The penchant for luxury and ostentation by council executives throughout the country at the expense of rate payers should be stopped forthwith.
Source - MDC
