Mayors told to toe constitutional line

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
LOCAL authorities must align their plans and activities with the demands of the country’s constitution as residents now have the option to take councils to the Constitutional Court for failure to deliver.

The acting president of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) Councillor Tsungai Makore said this while addressing mayors, deputy mayors, council chairpersons and town clerks during a two day constitutional review workshop held in Bulawayo.

The workshop was meant, among other reasons, to help eliminate conflicts between local authorities and the government.

Clr Makore emphasised the need for local authorities to be conversant with their mandate as it raises the level of accountability.

“Individuals, civic organisations and all aggrieved persons can now sue councils in the Constitutional Court for non-performance of given mandates. Constitutionalism raises the level of accountability. As a tier of government established by the constitution, local authorities have their share of state responsibilities assigned to them and for which they’re accountable,” said Clr Makore.

He said it was critical for local authorities to align their plans, activities, programmes, by-laws and interactions to the constitutional provisions.

“While Parliament is seized with aligning legislation to the constitution, it’s important for the local authorities to align their plans and activities to the constitutional provisions. To do so, we need to understand the constitution and what it stands for. This workshop therefore is expected to assist us identify our mandate as enshrined in the constitution,” said Clr Makore.

“This will help us familiarise with the constitutional provisions. We will then put our product for scrutiny by other stakeholders, which include Ministries, Parliament, civic society organisations and lawyers among others. It’s important therefore to note that when we’ve done it ourselves, we’ll not only own but also identify with it and therefore share it, defend it and be assured to deliver.”