local govt associations ordered to merge

single body that universally represents the interests of members.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo says the prevailing set up where urban local authorities fall under the Urban Councils of Zimbabwe and the rural councils report to the Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe was untenable.
“Come June 1 2011 there should only be one local government association so that the disjointed manner of operations does not exist,” he said.
But in 2006 the two associations merged into the Zimbabwe Local Government Association, which at the moment is led by Mr Nimrod Chiminya.
That merger has failed to work properly as the two associations continue to run parallel programmes and fundraise separately.
The merger was hailed as a turning point in local governance as it effectively signalled the demise of the anachronistic dual perception of local government in the country in terms of rural and urban.
Minister Chombo accused the secretary-generals of the two associations Mr Rogers Mozheinty and Mr Francis Duri of resisting the merger.
Mr Mozheinty is the secretary general of the ARDC and Mr Duri of UCAZ.
It would seem both men fear losing their authority if the two bodies merge into one umbrella body.
Minister Chombo made the remarks when he addressed a two-day workshop organised by UCAZ and funded by the European Union.
The workshop brought delegates from Gambia and Ghana.
“I am telling them now to go and form an inclusive government. If they fail we will ask them to move out. We are for one Local Government Act and one local government association,” he said.
Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda who attended the workshop said while the idea of a single local government association was plausible the time frame given by Minister Chombo was not feasible.
“It will be a miracle if the union happens by June,” said Mr Masunda.
Mr Masunda called on local authorities to desist from looking to Government for financial support when they can leverage their assets to make money.
He said the Government should be left to do policies that guide the operations of local authorities.
He said the success of local authorities requires that the mayor, Minister of Local Government, Governor and Resident Minister, the President and Prime Minister all share common development views.
“They all should be on the same page,” he said.