MDC-Renewal has begun constituting what it calls shadow provincial and metropolitan councils, which it says will monitor service delivery in cities in the wake of Zanu PF’s failure to implement devolution, despite it being provided for in the Constitution.
Staff Reporter
The shadow provincial and metropolitan councils will be composed of the party’s legislators, former legislators and councillors in the respective provinces.
“This comes after the failure by the Zanu PF government to implement Chapter 14 of the Constitution dealing with devolution,” Benson Ntini, chairman of the party’s local government committee says.
“For this failure, the party through its national chairman, (Samuel) Sipepa Nkomo took the government to the Supreme Court in April this year and the matter is still pending.”
MDC-Renewal said stakeholders such as civil society, women and youth groups, business community, informal traders and ex-combatants, who subscribed to the party’s values and ideology will be represented in the councils.
The party has since set up a steering committee which will oversee the setting up of a metropolitican council and it includes some members that recently ditched former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T.
Former mayor, Patrick Thaba Moyo will chair the committee, which includes former deputy mayors Amen Mpofu and Phil Lamola, legislator, Albert Mhlanga, councillor Lilian Mlilo and academic Philani Moyo. “The shadow provincial and metropolitan councils shall concentrate on the development issues affecting their respective provinces and metropolitan cities,” Ntini said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“The activities of the provincial and metropolitan councils shall contribute towards the formulation of the party’s national economic policies.” He said the Bulawayo council had already identified problems such as prepaid water meters, informal sector, deindustrialisation, unemployment and poverty as needing urgent attention.
“Moreover, the Byo will be hosting the AU (African Union) youth games in December 4 to 14,” Ntini said. “The shadow council will be monitoring the state of preparedness including the involvement of the locals in these games,” Ntini said
