Minister warns corrupt councils
MINISTER of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Owen Ncube has warned councils against engaging in corrupt activities and urged them to urgently resolve all pending land and boundary disputes in line with the new Government’s expectations.
Addressing chief executives and chairpersons of all rural district councils in the province on Tuesday, Cde Ncube said there was a new dispensation and it was critical for every Government arm to deliver within the next 100 days.
He said councils should take heed of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inaugural speech and start to hit the ground running, as everyone will now be judged based on results.
“I wish to welcome you all to this inaugural meeting, which marks the dawn of a new era in terms of our implementation of Government’s new trajectory.
“The new dispensation as enunciated by His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa requires that we all hit the ground running by abandoning the business as usual mindset,” he said.
Cde Ncube said the country was heading for the crucial 2018 general election and the President expected all Government arms including local authorities to deliver on the expectations of the electorate.
He said President Mnangagwa’s vision was to see a change in attitude within Government. He urged the participants to start coming up with result-oriented projects.
“We must depart from a culture of producing documents without implementation. Let me reiterate His Excellency’s inaugural speech. Corruption must stop forthwith!
“We must all go an extra mile by mapping outcomes and quick wins within the next 100 days, which will contribute to a marketable Zanu-PF manifesto that ensures a huge victory for His Excellency in the forth coming harmonised elections in 2018,” he said.
Cde Ncube said the Midlands province must set a record and urged councils to immediately deal with illegal settlements as well as resolving land disputes.
“All local authorities in the Midlands province must be transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the citizens.
“As local authorities, you need to identify and resolve with immediate effect, all land disputes in order to bring harmony to the communities,” he said.
Cde Ncube said under the new dispensation, there was need for people to forgive and tolerate each other.
“There must be tolerance, peace and unity among us all as espoused by the ruling Zanu-PF party.
“The thrust is to take everybody on board.
“Those individuals who were bent on dividing the party should be forgiven and reoriented towards uniting the nation,” he said.