Residents associations urged to be apolitical

LEADERS of residents associations should desist from using their positions to launch their political careers as it affects the effective execution of their mandates, a senior Government official has said.

Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs Minister Charles Tavengwa issued the warning when he met representatives of residents from Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Harare at his offices on Wednesday.

“Some of you use these platforms as political launch pads, aspiring to become councillors in the near future by being vocal in these consultative meetings and you find that five to 10 years expire without resolving any issue because of misunderstandings,” he said.

Minister Tavengwa said the association leaders should be the voices of the residents and be constructive in representing their constituents.

He cited the example of the raw water pipeline from Manyame River to Ruwa whose construction was delayed by some people with different motives, but is now the mainstay of the area.

Construction of dams and water reservoirs in the country like the Kunzvi Dam, which is now 45 percent complete, assist in the long run in capacitating local authorities to provide clean and safe water to residents, he said.

The residents’ association leaders met Minister Tavengwa and his officials to discuss issues of concern that include the illegal sale of land earmarked for schools, clinics, youths and women as well as access to clean water, haphazard business infrastructure development and sand poachers.

He promised that his team will look into the issues with a view to address them.

He said land barons who are selling residential land will be dealt with in cooperation between his office and the police.

The illegal sale of land in most urban eras in the country has seen many desperate home seekers losing large sums of their hard-earned monies after being duped that the transactions were aboveboard. - New Ziana.