Senate okays amended Local Government Bill

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill that will provide procedures to be followed when suspending a mayor or councillor of a local authority through the appointment of an independent tribunal, sailed through Senate on Thursday without amendments.

It now awaits Presidential assent.

The Bill to amend the Urban Councils Act and Rural District Councils Act faced protracted debate characterised by emotions and flaring of tempers, which resulted in the opposition Senators walking out of the House.

Local Government Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said the Bill was not to fix any individual, but to bring order and good governance in the country, especially local authorities.

“This will vindicate our party and Government that we stand for a clean Government and will not tolerate corruption in local authorities. This Bill is not only affecting one side of the party but we are all affected and I think it is commendable,” said Minister Kasukuwere.

“What was missing in the Act is the setting up of an independent tribunal. Everything else is in place. What the minister did not have was the way of setting up a tribunal.

“What this Bill provides is for us to have a mechanism of setting up a tribunal in case the residents and citizens come to us and level allegations against a sitting councillor, a mayor or chairperson. We needed to have a mechanism that will allow us to have or hear from both sides; this is part of our law, you must be able to listen to both sides.”

Minister Kasukuwere said there was an urgent need to amend the law to restore public confidence in local authorities. This would protect the public from abuse and misuse of council property and funds.

We are making laws to stop individuals and those who are elected from pilfering and stealing from the majority of our people,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

Senator Chief Musarurwa said the Bill was important as it ensured that the law was preserved.

Mashonaland Central Senator Cde Monica Mavhunga said the Constitution required that local authorities provide adequate shelter and water. Therefore, the Bill would correct mischief where councillors or mayors that misbehaved were removed from office and a tribunal put in place to carry out such investigations.