THE draft constitution contains a clause that bars a Local Government minister from unilaterally suspending and firing councillors on spurious grounds.
REPORT BY EVERSON MUSHAVA CHIEF REPORTER
According to the draft, which now awaits Parliament’s approval before it is taken to a referendum, errant councillors and mayors would be dealt with by an independent tribunal set through an Act of Parliament.
Currently, the minister has sole authority to suspend and expel councillors using provisions of the Urban Councils Act.
“An Act of Parliament shall provide for an independent tribunal for purposes of removal from offices of mayors, chairpersons and councillors . . .” reads the drafting instructions by Copac on Chapter 14.15(2) of the new charter.
The latest changes made to the draft contain a new clause 14.3(3) that says: “Employees of provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities must not be office bearers of any political party.”
MDC leader Welshman Ncube at the weekend confirmed the clause had been included to curtail the minister’s excessive powers.
“Yes, this was done in this view, to ensure that the Local Government minister will not abuse power,” Ncube said.
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Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo has fired mayors from Mutare, Rusape, Bindura, Chinhoyi and Gwanda, eight councillors in Harare, six in Bindura and suspended several from various local authorities around the country.
The draft also seeks to rein in securocrats who in the past have been accused of meddling in partisan politics and gross human right abuses.
It also seeks to enhance freedom of the media and facilitate access to information by both the public and media players.
Section 4.19 (1) reads: “Every citizen or permanent resident including, the Zimbabwean Press and other media of communication has the right of access to any information held by the State, its institutions and agencies of government at every level in so far as the information is required in the interest of public accountability.”
