Minister raps incompetent council

Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, told Parliament this week that gross incompetence in local urban authorities such as Harare City Council has resulted in the Commission of Inquiry to rescue ratepayers.

Over the years, council had been bogged in controversies and corruption and Minister Garwe said central Government could no longer stand aside and watch.

“There has been inefficiencies and incompetence. We have no apologies to make on incompetence. We have set aside devolution funds that will help them to collect refuse, buy equipment for roads construction. We have provided fire tenders and we gave Harare 24 trucks to collect waste,” said Minister Garwe.

He said there had been a lot of vice in Harare such as the stealing of land leading to collapse of service delivery.

Minister Garwe said it was for that reason that Government was intervening through a Commission of Inquiry led by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda to look at the challenges that has led to poor service delivery.

Government would invite investors, both local and international, to invest in economic hubs such as Siya So, Magaba and Mupedzanhamo in Mbare where there is huge potential for economic turnaround.

Responding to another question Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mnangagwa said they were reaching out to the private sector to refurbish the National Sports Stadium so that Zimbabwe can play its home football matches locally.

Legislators had expressed concern at the slow pace in addressing issues like the bucket seats at the giant stadium that has seen Zimbabwe forced to play its home matches in other countries.