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The party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, and Secretary for Administration Cde Didymus Mutasa confirmed in different interviews the setting up of the minimum requirements for aspiring councillors.
“We are seized with the issue of councillors,” he said. “We have done a document on rules and regulations. We are waiting for the Politburo to endorse the document.”
Cde Gumbo said the document looked at whether or not Zanu-PF should be represented by “mere bodies” or by people “with certain qualities and qualifications”.
He said the document spells out the required qualifications for various positions within the party that include representatives in the House of Assembly.
Cde Mutasa said he would be able to talk about the rules and regulations after endorsement by the Politburo.
“You should wait for the Politburo meeting,” he said. “All would be communicated to you through the normal channels.”
Qualifications for councillors became a big issue in Zimbabwe when the MDC-T won a number of urban wards across the cities and towns.
The party allowed “all and sundry” to represent it, resulting in a huge loss of confidence in the lower tiers of Government.
Cases of corruption and poor service delivery dominated the tenure of MDC-T councillors, who also stand accused of abusing their offices to acquire wealth.
The MDC-T dismissed a number of its councillors in different parts of the country after finding them to have promoted corruption. Government has also hinted on setting up minimum educational qualifications for councillors.
The justification has been that many councillors were failing to appreciate their mandate and authority because of low literacy.
In its current form, the Urban Councils’ Act, which governs the operations of local authorities, is silent on educational, property and other qualifications for councillors.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo and Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda have bemoaned the poor calibre of urban councillors, especially those from Harare.
Online Reporter