New uMlalazi mayor relishes the task ahead
‘IT is never an easy task to take the baton from the fastest runner, but it is the shared vision and dedication of a team’s work that strengthens one’s persistence.’
This was the sentiment of the newly-elected uMlalazi Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Thulani Dlamini.
Dlamini was elected during a council meeting held on Tuesday after he was nominated by the ANC to contest the mayoral position which became vacant in December, following the death of Cllr Thelumoya Zulu.
Dlamini contested the mayoral position against the IFP’s Cllr Queen Xulu, receiving 29 votes to Xulu’s 24.
Delivering his inaugural speech, Dlamini said the municipality is a well-structured organ of state, with shared responsibilities among its hierarchy, guided by policies and legislation.
‘This therefore makes it a simple yet mammoth task to deliver on the mandate of the electorate, effectively and efficiently.
‘We should never deviate from championing the basic needs of our people, which are poverty alleviation, inequality and job creation.
‘This can be achieved through a clear development plan of growing an inclusive economy, enforcing our set policies which talk to the previously marginalised, the youth, women and people with disabilities.
‘More resources from the municipal coffers should be channelled towards these groups to foster a level of equality and economic emancipation, especially for the youth.
‘We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future,’ Dlamini said.
Dlamini said their policies and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) must never be compliance documents archived in fancy offices, but they should be aggressively implemented in response to the needs of the society, and always in line with the legislation.
‘The implementation must be concurrent with a clear monitoring and evaluation strategy to ensure evidence based and convenient work.
‘As a municipality, we must at all times prioritise inter-governmental relations, maintain sustainable working relations with traditional leadership, and be unapologetic in promoting socio-economic development through social cohesion. ‘This must be done to empower our communities to meet government’s development. We shall initiate the change we want to see in our communities. uMlalazi Municipality is rich in agriculture, this alone should motivate our youth to capacitate itself on Agri processing and subsequently agribusiness.
‘Recently Cogta recognised us for our best IDP and we were among the top ten municipalities and countless times we have received good audit outcomes.
Again this was as a result of common goals fought for by a cooperative team.’