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Senior Reporter
OPPOSITION parties-run local authorities have no excuse for their failure in service delivery given that they operate on an approved budget that is expected to finance their operations, a senior Zanu PF member has said.
Addressing those who attended a voter mobilisation meeting held at Tanganda Halt on Monday, Zanu PF Women’s League national secretary for administration, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa said the opposition parties should not mislead the nation into believing that they are struggling because of Government interference.
Hundreds of the ruling Zanu PF’s Women League members from the five constituencies of Chipinge District attended the event.
Said Cde Mutsvangwa: “We all know that local authorities operate on a budget. They get their financial resources to operate from these budgets. The budget for Harare, at one point, was bigger than some neighbouring countries’ budgets. The question is how are they using that money?
“Land allocation and use in urban areas is in shambles. Land designated for sports initiatives was clandestinely sold in some shady deals. Land designated for schools was sold in the dead of the night in underhand deals that we have endured at the hands of local authorities.
“We are saying the time for this tomfoolery is over. Time for protest votes is over. Let us think deeply about the disservice we have endured from opposition parties run local authorities,” she said.
Cde Mutsvangwa’s sentiments come hard on the heels of Government’s clarification, through Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona’s recent address to Senate, that city roads maintenance falls under the purview of local authorities since they get funding allocations from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) on a quarterly basis.
Councils countrywide have been failing to maintain roads and they have deteriorated to the extent of being impassable in some areas.
Road construction falls under the infrastructure cluster as they are regarded as key economic enablers in line with Government’s vision of attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030.
So far, Government has spent over $1 billion on road rehabilitation, gravelling and drainage structuring as part of the Second Republic’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2).
Government took over the rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads in towns and cities after realising that the inept opposition-led local authorities were failing or unable to channel funds towards roads rehabilitation.
Speaking during the voter mobilisation meeting, Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza urged cadres to remain disciplined as the country heads towards this year’s harmonised elections.
He unequivocally warned those bent on disturbing party processes.
“I really want to call upon party cadres to uphold discipline in the party. We will not tolerate indiscipline this time around. I am warning those who will be sent to disturb party meetings and processes that disciplinary action will be taken against them. I also want to remind cadres that meetings are not called in people’s homes. No, that is not proper.
“Party protocols are clear on how messages are passed on relating to meetings and other processes,” said Cde Mukodza.
Manicaland has the third highest number of registered voters after Harare and Midlands provinces.
Online Reporter