adminMidlands Correspondent
THE new administration under the leadership of President Mnangagwa is giving local authorities space to conduct their business freely, a local governance expert has said. In an interview on the sidelines of the local government symposium held at the Midlands State University (MSU) recently, local governance expert Dr Vincent Chakunda said President Mnangagwa’s administration allowed local authorities to fully exercise their mandate without too many restrictions, unlike the past administration.
Dr Chakunda, who is MSU local governance studies department lecturer, said the previous administration stifled local authorities’ operations.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has reconfigured the policy and administration space for local government,” he said. “This is against the background of local government that was suppressed by tight restrictions and directives from central government.
“This later constrained the policy, administrative competencies and stifled the operation zone for local authorities.”
MSU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Kadmiel Wekwete said service delivery by local authorities should be the driving force in rural and urban councils for the development of communities.
“Under the new administration, I am glad that we are being pushed harder, hence the need for the creation of tools that allow us to create development in our local authorities rather than having apparatus to administer and control,” said Prof Wekwete.
He said local authorities had power on licensing and taxing.
Online Reporter