‘Let’s vote for competent councillors’
CANDIDATES intending to contest in upcoming council elections, especially sitting councillors, must evaluate their competence to hold office, the Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has said.
This follows a local government elections survey in which 44,7 percent of the respondents rated the performance of sitting councillors as poor.
“Political parties must, therefore, critically assess sitting councillors seeking re-election,” said HRT. “Further, political parties are urged to evaluate the credentials of council candidates during primary elections.
“Such evaluation includes each party having criteria for candidate selection, which are competence and integrity-based.”
HRT said, which is running a campaign called “We Pay, You Deliver”, said the survey had shown that some political parties were letting down their loyal supporters by selecting incompetent candidates to run for council office.
“Based on the last two or three past elections, more than 70 percent of the respondents indicated that they did not change the party that they voted for in council elections,” said HRT. “Such a voting behaviour points to an electorate with consistent voting preferences. Political parties enjoying such loyalty need to reciprocate by fielding competent candidates committed to changing service delivery in cities.”
The report also suggested that political parties must explore the capabilities of their candidates and evaluate their abilities, as opposed to basing their selection on popularity.
The local government elections survey report titled “The Uncertainty of 2018” was conducted between August and October last year and saw enumerators interviewing residents in Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare.
The survey focused on three issues concerning local government elections — the context, awareness, and expectations and process dynamics.
In 2015, Harare mayor Councillor Benard Manyenyeni suggested that the Harare city councillors should have skills in various fields to manage city affairs professionally.
He said the city would benefit more if it had lawyers, doctors, engineers and other professionals as councillors, which attracted a backlash from fellow councillors.
Councillors, especially those from the MDC-T, have been accused of serving their interest ahead of those of residents by engaging in corrupt activities. — Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda