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Ropafadzo Ndangariro and Audrey Rundofa
Aspiring councillors need to be competent, people-centred and incorruptible if they are to diligently deliver on their mandate, Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni has said.
Addressing Harare councillors yesterday, Cllr Manyenyeni said councils should be able to harness politics, business and community service interests to establish a functional local authority.
“You are coming to be members of the biggest board of directors in the country, so as the City Fathers, you have to embrace the size of your mandate,” he said.
“Let me remind you that in my assessment of things, being in council is a very unique opportunity. It is possibly the only opportunity for you to use and operate in equilibrium of politics, business and community service.
“Council is where those three meet; if you get the equilibrium right, you will have a functional council. If you mess up one of these two and dislocate the balance between politics, business and welfare, your council will not function.”
For councillors to protect the interest of residents, he said, they needed to shun corruption and sacrifice themselves.
“Your duty as councillors is to protect Harare lifestyles,” said Cllr Manyenyeni. “There is a dangerous component I call investors, these are councillors who have personal financial or other interests, so that person will force you to employ 500 people to make sure his relatives are there. It has to be a game of sacrifice, not a game of gain. According to the investor, everything matters provided his interests are taken care of.”
Online Reporter