Kwekwe councillors declare assets

Midlands Correspondent
Newly-sworn-in Kwekwe councillors have declared their individual assets as a way of promoting transparency in the running of the mining town. The council is largely dominated by MDC Alliance councillors who garnered 13 out of 14 seats, with Zanu-PF claiming the remaining seat.

Speaking to journalists during a MISA-Zimbabwe meeting with the city officails, Kwekwe mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo said the move was necessitated by the need to curb corruption within the Civic Centre.

“As a way of promoting transparency and curb corruption, we have decided to conduct a lifestyle audit led by the declaration of assets by individual councillors,” said Cllr Kasipo.

The councillors, she said, where halfway through the declaration process to be done both by the party and the council.

“We have already signed declaration forms declaring our property with the party,” said Cllr Kasipo. “We are, however, yet to sign the declaration forms with the council, but we are in the process.”

In an interview, MDC-Alliance Midlands North chairperson Mr Sedwell Bhebhe said they were closely monitoring the councillors in a bid to curb corruption.

“We are not going to tolerate corruption by any member of the party be it councillors or legislators,” he said.

“We are going to deal decisively with corrupt elements.

The declaration of assets was a move meant to curb corruption and be able to question some amassing of wealth by office bearers that is out of the ordinary.”

The move was welcome by residents with Kwekwe Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary general Mr Alex Homela hailing the move.

“We definitely welcome the move as it goes a long way in easily tracking down where the wealth acquired by some of these councillors overnight would have come from,” said Mr Homela.