THE Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo has threatened to replace elected local authorities with state-appointed commissions, opening yet another front in the increasingly bitter turf wars within the country’s coalition administration.

The MDC-T has in the past accused Zanu PF of using commissions to subvert the will of voters and win back control of local authorities that would have been won by the opposition in elections.

State commissions have previously been appointed to replace MDC local authorities in the capital Harare as well as the eastern border city of Mutare.

And Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo has warned that the provisions of the Urban Councils Act would yet again be invoked where cases of corruption are proven.

The councils said to be targeted are all MDC-T-run and include Bindura, Chitungwiza, Kadoma and Redcliff.

“Last year we forgave most of the councillors because they were newcomers, but ratepayers are now fed up with the levels of corruption in local authorities.

“As Government we cannot just sit back while local authorities milk ratepayers,” he is quoted by The Herald as saying.

In fairness to the Minister however, the MDC-T has itself condemned corruption in some of the councils, particularly Chitungwiza.

The Government has since dispatched investigators to probe the corruption allegations and Chombo warned that he would act on their recommendations.

“We have sent our forensic teams to investigate local authorities that are accused of mismanagement. All councillors who will be found on the wrong side of the law will be automatically dismissed.

“In the event that the whole council is found guilty, we will replace it with a commission until new elections are held,” Chombo is quoted by the state-owned Herald as saying.

He is also said to have written to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai expressing concern at the levels of corruption in local authorities that are dominated by MDC-T councillors.