Councillors fail accountability test
BULAWAYO councillors chickened out from going on air at a city radio station for two days to talk about work done since they were elected in 2013 following complaints by listeners that they were getting a raw deal from elected officials.
On Wednesday, Skyz Metro dared elected councillors and parliamentarians to go on air, face the people and account for the past five years they have spent in office.
The station invited the elected officials after complaints by listeners during its Vuka Vuka Show hosted by Babongile Sikhonjwa from 6AM to 10AM daily.
Three Zanu-PF lawmakers appeared on the programme on Thursday and three MDC-T legislators appeared yesterday, but councillors were nowhere to be found on both days.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Mr Gift Banda said the decision by councillors not to appear on the programme was justified since they had no obligation to listen to any specific radio station or read any newspaper.
“We did not receive any formal invitation from Skyz Metro and that is the reason why we did not attend. They cannot say they invited us via the media because for starters, I do not listen to Skyz and it is not our obligation to read newspapers to get information,” said Clr Banda.
“They were supposed to specifically invite us and then it was going to be fair for you to conclude that we did not attend the accountability test. As far as we are concerned we are not aware of any invite.”
He said councillors cannot be invited to public forums through the media.
“I for one, I do not read papers and hence you cannot say the story was written. They were supposed to make a formal invite through the BCC or through the party,” Clr Banda said.
“There is nothing to hide, they are supposed to account and answer difficult questions. If we receive the invite, we will attend.”
Skyz Metro station manager Mr Godwin Phiri said three MPs, all from the MDC-T, went on air to answer questions yesterday morning.
“We are glad that three more MPs came through and the feedback from residents was massive. Unfortunately, no councillor attended the show since our call on Wednesday and we will thereby extend the call in case more pitch up and account to the people,” said Mr Phiri.
“We had Entumbane-Emakhandeni MP Mr Dingilizwe Tshuma, Nketa- Mganwini legislator Mr Phelela Masuku and Senator Gideon Shoko.”
On Thursday, Zanu-PF MPs: MpopomaPelandaba’s Cde Joseph Tshuma, Cde Godfrey Malaba from Pumula and Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo from Luveve were the first parliamentarians to brave the call.
These three are part of the five legislators who joined the current Parliament two years into its term after winning by-elections.
Mr Phiri promised that the show would provide a conducive platform for debates by all politicians. — @thamamoe