Town clerks must resuscitate local authorities

EDITOR — The recently appointed town clerk of Gweru has confirmed what I recently wrote about responsibilities in local authorities.

In her interview, she condemned the systems she inherited at the city council. The former town clerk was among those who got huge salaries and allowances without delivering any results.

Why was he being paid when the systems he was in control of were falling? Imagine being paid for doing nothing at the expense of the residents.

This in my view is the practice in most local authorities as is proved by dying infrastructure and practices. Our economy has shifted from the pay and complain later situation to a buy and get your services as you use them. Pay as you go services for electricity and telephone operators are an example.

I think it is important as well for the Ministry of Local Government to work hand in hand with all town and city councils rather than having an antagonistic relationship.

Councillors represent the interests of the citizenry and naturally the Government’s well-being hence why I believe the two must work together.

It is prudent that those in office are accountable to the citizens through councillors since they are accountable to the people through results in service delivery.