…whose interests is MDC-T serving?
Kimberly Kusauka/Emmanuel Chitsika
The continuous purging of councilors in local authorities spearheaded by MDC-T recalls due to political turbulences in the main Zimbabwean opposition outfits has had long lasting effects in the state of service delivery in the country.
The recent recall of former Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe which saw him leaving the mayoral post has spelt yet another crisis, as Gweru residents were left wondering if their vote really counts.
In an unprecedented political move, the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T has made elected leaders who pledge allegiance to Nelson Chamisa to leave office, which has been responsible for the big number of vacant seats in both local authorities and the national assembly, leaving citizens at the receiving end of lack of representation.
In the Gweru scenario, Makombe was credited for his leadership in attracting the attention of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to preside over the official opening of the model Kudzanai bus terminus in the Midlands capital late last year as well as the coming into play of City Parking which now boosts revenue for the city.
MDC-T denied having recalled Makombe for some time, even after Gweru City Council had declared the city’s mayoral post vacant, with Makombe and former MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe approaching the courts to fight their recall.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) Director Conerlia Selipiwe said recalls have a negative impact towards development, depending on the number of recalled officials which might cause divisions in council.
“Recalls are not good for development but in terms of achievements, we need to understand how council operate. They were working as 18 councilors, so only one was recalled and 17 others remained so I do not foresee projects being disturbed.
“Recalls cause division in council but development will always continue,” said Selipiwe.
Gweru Residents Forum Director Charles Mazorodze said the recall of Makombe might negatively impact on the residents as the case with Mkoba constituency.
He said politicians are focusing on power and forgetting to serve residents who voted them into power.
“The recall of former Mayor Makombe was very unfortunate as he was trying to steer the city towards a renewed service provision agenda.
“I think some of the projects that council had already embarked on bear testimony to such including the Gweru city parking which resulted in the city procuring road maintenance machinery and improved revenue inflows.
“It is quite unfortunate that political bickering as well as political contestations have taken over the mandatory of service delivery which councils are supposed to be providing,” said Mazorodze.
He said that Makombe was Ward 2 councilor and there is no longer anyone to represent them.
“It is actually disturbing that we find ourselves in a situation where the Mayor was recalled and the ward he was representing has been left without a leader until the conduction of elections.
“Generally this exhibits that political parties take residents for a ride where they concentrate more on power accumulation, self-aggrandizements at the expense of service provision which they promised to residents,” said Mazorodze.
In 2020, four Masvingo urban councillors Tarusenga Vhembo (ward 3), Godfrey Kurauone (ward 4), Daniel Mberikunashe (ward 5) and Richard Musekiwa (ward 7) were victims of the MDC-T recalls and since then the wards have remained vacant as electoral management body Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) could not hold by-elections due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic.
The resultant effect at Masvingo City Council has been a quorum headache on resolutions and other council matters at the detriment of residents.
Resident forums from Masvingo and Chipinge gave their views on recalls whilst suggesting possible solutions to existing challenges affecting residents in those vacant wards.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said residents from wards whose councilors were recalled are not represented in full council meetings.
“The major challenge with residents whose councilors were recalled is that they no longer have anyone to represent their interests in full council meetings because their leaders were recalled due to political infighting in certain political parties,” said Mtimba.
He said as an organization they wrote a petition to parliament so that government would consider holding by-elections after realizing the challenges residents.
“We have advocated for government to lift by-elections ban in 2020 and 2021 so that by-elections are held for our residents to have representation.
“We are almost happy that some of our efforts bore fruit because President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently announced a day for parliamentary elections. Unfortunately he did not proclaim a date for local government elections to replace recalled councilors.
“After a research we have seen that the President does not give a date for local government election, it is Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s duty. We are now calling upon ZEC to proclaim a date for local government elections and if possible we want the same date as that of parliamentary elections,” said Mtimba.
“We have closed gap where residents without councilors can come to our offices with their concerns and we take them directly to council through Town Clerk or Mayor’s office who will take them to full council meetings,” said Mtimba.
Masvingo Residents Forum (MRF) chairperson, Brighton Ramusi concurred with Mtimba that residents are not represented.
“Residents are not represented in council, there is no ward planning and consultations taking place in these wards where councillors were recalled,” said Ramusi.
He said residents communicated with their organization through WhatsApp platforms since Masvingo City Council (MCC) WhatsApp group has been closed.
“Residents have been conveying messages through resident associations and local media WhatsApp groups who would in turn report to council.
“It is unfortunate that MCC WhatsApp group is closed for residents to engage council. We had anticipated highly that with recruitment of Public Relations Officer (PRO) there was going to be enhanced interaction between residents and city fathers, but we have come to a conclusion that this office is of little significance to residents and ratepayers,” said Ramusi.
MCC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ashley Jinjika said the wards without councillors are being represented by the Mayor.
“When any councilor is recalled the Mayor automatically becomes the councillor for that ward, so Mayor Councillor Maboke is currently monitoring five wards in Masvingo urban,” said Jinjika.
A similar fate befell Chipinge where four councilors Chairman Zivanai Nyakuchena (ward 1), Sarah Marwa (ward 2), Raina Madenyika (ward 4) and Chrispen Rambu (ward 8).
The result was burden on remaining councillors in Chipinge who have to watch over two wards in order to fill in the gaps left by the recalled councilors. This is done to try to ensure that the vacant boards are catered for.
Chipinge Town Residents Association (CTRA) chairperson, Simoyi Mhlanga said residents are not represented and information takes ages to reach them.
He suggested that council officials disseminate information to wards without councilors in real time.
“If council sits for full council meetings, those residents without councilors are not represented and residents do not receive information.
“We are suggesting that when full council meetings are held, council officials should make an effort to address those handicapped wards,” said Mhlanga.
Chipinge Business and Residents Trust (CBRET) Programs Coordinator, Amato Rungano said recall of four councillors saw council allocating four councilors to those vacant wards which he said is not fair to residents.
“Following the recall of four councillors in Chipinge, council proceeded to allocate vacant wards to each of the four remaining councillors. Needless to say that this resolution was a violation of resident’s rights.
“Council cannot impose a councilor to residents who did not elect them. We are cognizant of the fact that each ward is unique and those councilors may not be effective in pushing development agendas in those wards,” said Rungano.
He said as an organization they recommend that Acting Town Secretary deals with issues from wards without councilors as they wait for by-elections.
“Our view as a resident association is that purported arrangement has a potential effect of creating rivalry between council and residents which is an antithesis of development. The obvious result is that residents will boycott payment of rates.
“As a way forward we recommend that Acting Town Secretary be responsible for dealing with service delivery issues whilst waiting for by-elections where residents will elect a representative of their choice,” said Rungano.
Residents from wards whose councilors have been recalled are having almost the same challenges and are in dire need of councillors to represent their interests.
Chipinge Town Residents Association (CTRA) chairperson, Simoyi Mhlanga residents are not represented and information takes time to reach residents. He suggests that council officials disseminate information to wards without councilors in real time.
“If council sit for full council meetings, those residents without councillors are not represented and residents do not receive information.
“We are suggesting that when full council meetings are held, council officials should make an effort to address those handicapped wards,” said Mhlanga.
Chipinge Business and Residents Trust (CBRET) Programs Coordinator, Amato Rungano said recall of four councilors saw council allocating four councilors to those vacant wards which he said is not fair to residents.
“Following the recall of four councilors in Chipinge, council proceeded to allocate vacant wards to each of the four remaining councilors. Needless to say, this resolution was a violation of resident’s rights.
“Council cannot impose a councilor to residents whom they did not elect. We are cognizant of the fact that each ward is unique and those councilors may not be effective in pushing development agendas in those wards,” said Rungano.
He said as an organization they recommend that Acting Town Secretary deals with issues from wards without councilors as they wait for by-elections.
“Our view as a resident association is that purported arrangement has a potential effect of creating rivalry between council and residents which is an antithesis of development. The obvious result is that residents will boycott payment of rates.
“As a way forward we recommend that Acting Town Secretary be responsible for dealing with service delivery issues whilst waiting for by-elections where residents will elect a representative of their choice,” he said.
Residents from wards whose councilors have been recalled are having almost the same challenges and they are in need of councilors.
The recent announcement of by-elections dates come with a sigh of relief to residents and consitituents, who still remain with the hope that they will make a statement in the ballot, in case recalls would not return in the near future, further muffling their voices.
As the harmonised elections draw nearer, the onus would be upon the electorate to put each and every political player in his/her rightful place so that the interests of the ordinary people take centre stage, lest voter apathy reigns supreme because of the frustrations that may come from having elected leaders recalled.
