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THE 260 councillors from the 10 local authorities in Manicaland — whose swearing-in was set between Wednesday and today (Friday), are expected to hit the ground running since the third quarter of each year is a time for councils to craft new budgets for the coming year.
The process started with the swearing-in of 13 representatives for Rusape Town Council on Wednesday, with Mutare City and Chipinge Town councils conducting theirs yesterday (Thursday), while the rest are following suit today (Friday).
At law, local authority officials and councillors should go out to residents and other stakeholders to consult them when coming up with their budgets.
However, over the years, budgetary processes have been marred with contention, a crisis brought about by poor coordination between councils and their communities.
This has seen the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works giving councillors adequate time to consult residents and ratepayers ahead of the November deadline for submission of their budgets to the parent ministry for approval.
The 13 newly elected Rusape Town Council councillors were sworn in by Makoni District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mr Edwin Mashindi, who did not sanction the election of the council chairman, vice chairman and committee chairpersons as per tradition.
Mr Mashindi said the councillors, whose majority are greenhorns, will have to undergo induction training first before voting each other into positions.
The induction training will be facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Mr Mashindi urged the councillors to meet or exceed expectations of residents and warned them against abusing their positions and privileges.
“While I congratulate you all for being elected councillors, you are expected to perform your duties beyond expectations. Corrupt practices will not be tolerated, and those caught with their hands in the cookie jar will be set as examples.
“As councillors, you are expected to embrace all residents and act in an apolitical manner. Election into positions will be done after induction training by the ministry,” said Mr Mashindi.
The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) commands the majority of seats in the council, with nine elected councillors, while Zanu PF has four.
Ward Two councillor, Alderman Clever Chimuse is the only Zanu PF cadre who was directly elected through the ballot, while the other three were duly elected after CCC failed to submit its list of the women’s quota to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) at the closure of the nomination court in June.
Rusape will now have five female councillors, namely Councillor Stella Bhasikiti of CCC (Ward Eight); Ms Shylet Mutisi (Ward 10, CCC); Councilor Christine Maude Murembwe (Zanu PF); Councillor Redmpter Gwasira (Zanu PF) and Councillor Abigail Zimunya (Zanu PF).
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