Incompetent mayors face the sack Civil servants’ crunch housing indaba

INCOMPETENT mayors and councillors face instant dismissal as Government moves to end corruption and maladministration in local authorities.

In terms of a new draft law being spearheaded by the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry, and that of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, a tribunal will decide the fate of under-performing mayors and councillors.

The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill will amend the Rural District Councils and Urban Councils Acts.

Urban and rural councils fell under one portfolio until 2015 when President Mugabe created the Rural Development Ministry, which now caters for the latter.

Secretary for Local Government Engineer George Mlilo said, “The two ministries have been spilt and so we are now waiting for principals from all sides to agree on the issues in the draft. Once that has been done we will table the bill in parliament.”

One of the major highlights of the proposed legislation is establishment of an independent tribunal to deal with the removal of mayors, councillors and council chairpersons as provided for by Section 278 of the Constitution.

Some of the grounds for removal from office include gross incompetence; inability to perform functions due to mental or physical incapacity; gross misconduct; conviction of an offence involving dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office; and wilful violation of the law.

The Judicial Service Commission will be involved in constituting the tribunal.

The tribunal shall have “A chairperson appointed by the minister THE Apex Council, which brings together representatives of Government employees, will this week have a crucial indaba with the employer to finalise issues that are threatening to derail the civil servants housing scheme.

Top of the agenda is presentation of how Government will prioritise construction of high-rise buildings while minimising allocation of residential stands to employees.

Government has allocated land for high-rise buildings and residential stands in all provinces. But with President Mugabe pointing out that going up is better than spreading out, the civil servants’ scheme will now prioritise apartment blocks.

Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Works Engineer George Mlilo said, “We are presenting this new thrust when we meet the Apex council this Thursday.

“The issue of high-rise buildings in the civil servants housing scheme follows the pronouncement by President Mugabe recently. We want to build high-rise buildings and from a list of at least three and not more than nine registered legal practitioners with at least five years’ experience in private or public practice, who shall be nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, if the original list consists of fewer than nine nominees, the minister may request an additional nominee or list of nominees so that the total number of nominees including minimise the number of residential stands we had initially indicated.

“We are set to build model high-rise buildings in all provinces in a few months and we have identified old messengers’ camps which were used as District Administrators’ areas.

“In Harare we will build two model high-rise buildings in Highfield while the other two will be built in Bulawayo between Mpopoma suburb and Mabutweni suburbs. Other provinces will have a single model building each.

“These models will act as price guides. However we are hoping the final cost for the flats will be reduced once we have engaged suppliers of building materials.”

Costs of flat units announced by Government in April range between US$32 000 and US$72 000. Apex council deputy chairperson Mr David Dzatsunga said the meeting would iron out sticky issues between Government and employees vis-a-vis the housing scheme.

To date over 75 000 civil servants have registered to take up the flat units and residential stands. those in the original list do not exceed nine.

“. . . two other members appointed by the Judicial Service Commission from a list of at least three and not more than nine persons nominated by the minister, who shall be persons experienced in local government administration, whether as former councillors or as administrators”.