THE main opposition MDC-T has threatened to block Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s planned tour of Harare City Council wards, arguing the visits were aimed at “snooping” at opposition councillors and seeking to de-campaign them.
BY MOSES MATENGA/STEPHEN CHADENGA
The MDC-T controls 38 of the city’s 46 wards while the ruling Zanu PF party only has seven seats with one seat under an independent councillor.
But Kasukuwere told NewsDay on Tuesday that the ward visits would enable him to interact with the residents and check on service delivery. This comes amid claims by some MDC-T councillors that they were not aware of Kasukuwere’s visits.
The Zanu PF national commissar vowed to continue with his programme despite threats from the MDC-T, but could not give specific dates for the ward visits.
MDC-T Harare provincial chairman Eric Murayi said Kasukuwere’s ward tours were tantamount to meddling in council affairs.
“The MDC Harare province takes great exception to the move by the Zanu PF Harare provincial leadership to meddle in the work of elected councillors in the capital city of the country,” Murayi said.
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He added: “The MDC-T takes great exception to this brazen interference in the work of the elected local government leadership in Harare. It is our view that the Local Government minister must work with the elected leadership of Harare to deal with problems in the city’s wards. The minister cannot move around with unelected officials when there is a legitimate and elected leadership that he can work with to improve service delivery in Harare.”
“This is an issue that we are not taking lightly and we will do everything legal and peaceful to stop this arrant nonsense. Zanu PF cannot purport to solve problems of the people of Harare when the very same people did not vote for Zanu PF in 2013.”
Meanwhile, Kasukuwere yesterday said suspended Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi was on the police “wanted list” for refusing to surrender his mayoral regalia and official vehicle.
Speaking after touring council projects in the Midlands capital, Kasukuwere said his ministry made a police report after Kombayi failed to return the regalia and car.
Kombayi is believed to have fled to the United Kingdom after the High Court ordered him to hand over his official BT50 mayoral vehicle.
The embattled MDC-T councillor, however, told NewsDay last month that he had not run away, but was seeking medical treatment overseas.
