NEWLY-APPOINTED Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene has announced plans to set up a shadow council comprising war veterans to play an oversight role at the opposition MDC-T-led Mutare City Council.
KENNETH NYANGANI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Addressing war veterans in the eastern border city on Sunday, Chimene, who doubles up as national spokesperson for the former freedom fighters, said she would act as mayor under the proposed structure.
Chimene accused the city fathers of being clueless on how to run council affairs, hence the decision to appoint a shadow council to keep them on their toes. “I told council that they are the service providers, but they have failed us. Service delivery has plummeted, so comrades what should we do? We will form our own council with parallel structures where I will be the mayor and you (war veterans) will be the councilors,” Chimene said.
“We are going to do our modalities and we will put you in sections and I can assure you Mutare will never be the same again. If the council’s engineer fails to plan, we will do it ourselves. If they again fail to address the potholes issues on our roads, we will do it ourselves, and if they fail to collect refuse, we will do it ourselves. Then we will see what will be their jobs.”
The firebrand minister has been meeting various stakeholders around the province since last week sharing her proposed work plan. She has already met provincial and district heads of government departments, church leaders and business heads in the province among other stakeholders.
