Godfrey Mtimba
… losing independent candidate threatens
demo if new Cllrs fail to heed demand
demo if new Cllrs fail to heed demand
Clayton Shereni
Just as
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed all public office holders to declare
their assets, Masvingo Urban Ward 2 losing independent council candidate, Trust
Mhaka has written a letter to Masvingo City Council petitioning the 10 elected
councillors to declare their assets with immediate effect.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed all public office holders to declare
their assets, Masvingo Urban Ward 2 losing independent council candidate, Trust
Mhaka has written a letter to Masvingo City Council petitioning the 10 elected
councillors to declare their assets with immediate effect.
In a letter
dated September 05, 2018, Mhaka requests town clerk, Adolf Gusha to ensure that
councillors are made to declare their assets for the sake of transparency and
accountability.
dated September 05, 2018, Mhaka requests town clerk, Adolf Gusha to ensure that
councillors are made to declare their assets for the sake of transparency and
accountability.
“On behalf
of the concerned residents I am glad to advise that all councillors must
declare their individual assets with immediate effect, in terms of the
provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 9:16),” reads the
letter.
of the concerned residents I am glad to advise that all councillors must
declare their individual assets with immediate effect, in terms of the
provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 9:16),” reads the
letter.
Mhaka also goes
on to threaten a swift mobilisation of residents to lodge a petition and stage
massive demonstrations if the councillors failed to comply with his demand by
Friday, October 05.
on to threaten a swift mobilisation of residents to lodge a petition and stage
massive demonstrations if the councillors failed to comply with his demand by
Friday, October 05.
“Failure to
consider this advice by Friday 5 October, I will not hesitate to mobilise the
concerned residents to present a petition and to demonstrate against the
councillors,” the letter reads.
consider this advice by Friday 5 October, I will not hesitate to mobilise the
concerned residents to present a petition and to demonstrate against the
councillors,” the letter reads.
When contacted
for comment, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (Murra)
spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba, concurred with Mhaka’s idea, saying it was a good
move which would help establish greater transparency in council business.
for comment, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (Murra)
spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba, concurred with Mhaka’s idea, saying it was a good
move which would help establish greater transparency in council business.
“We
strongly support the idea and we have always been calling for that as a way of
promoting transparency and accountability. As residents, we need to know our
councillors’ assets and councillors have to declare those assets so that we
will be able to take note of any suspicious accumulation of wealth. This is a
good way of preventing the looting of public resources and other forms of
corruption,” said Mtimba.
strongly support the idea and we have always been calling for that as a way of
promoting transparency and accountability. As residents, we need to know our
councillors’ assets and councillors have to declare those assets so that we
will be able to take note of any suspicious accumulation of wealth. This is a
good way of preventing the looting of public resources and other forms of
corruption,” said Mtimba.
Politicians have
attracted widespread criticism from citizens who feel they often seek office
for the purposes of gaining influence to enrich themselves.
attracted widespread criticism from citizens who feel they often seek office
for the purposes of gaining influence to enrich themselves.
At national
level, some councillors who went into office as humble citizens have been
accused of suddenly becoming rich people with various pieces of land and
vehicles.
level, some councillors who went into office as humble citizens have been
accused of suddenly becoming rich people with various pieces of land and
vehicles.
