Chombo's 24-hour deadline for Chitungwiza mayor

Chombo's 24-hour deadline for Chitungwiza mayor

• Zanu PF mobs lock out Chitunwiza mayor

• Harare swallows Marondera, Norton and Mazowe

• Harare grinds to halt as council workers strike

By Staff Reporter

THE government has moved to take control of the MDC-led Chitungwiza Municipality after giving council 24 hours to come up with a turn around strategy failure of which it would appoint a commission to run the affairs of the municipality.

Local government minister, Ignatius Chombo on Tuesday ratcheted up the pressure on the troubled council that has been crippled by a demonstration by Zanu PF supporters who are demanding mayor, Misheck Shoko’s resignation on allegations of poor service delivery.

Apart from demanding the turnaround plan, Chombo also said the municipality should have solved the problem of burst water sewers and collection of refuse by Friday.

Last year, Chombo suspended and subsequently fired Harare MDC mayor Elias Mudzuri for "failure to come up with a turn-around strategy for the city” among other trumped up charges.

Chitungwiza mayor Misheck Shoko who was back at work Wednesday after being barred from entering council offices by rowdy ruling Zanu PF party supporters on Monday and Tuesday said the ministers’ directive was an uphill task.

“How can you come up with a turn around strategy for a million; people within hours?” Shoko asked.

The mayor added that council officials were working on the turnaround plan but was not sure if they would beat Chombo’s deadline.

He added that if they succeed to move ahead of time, he doubted if the rushed blue print would be the panacea to Chitungwiza’s problems.

This year Chombo has rounded on almost all MDC-led councils for failing to deliver among other issues.

In July, Bulawayo mayor Japhet Ndabeni-Ncube was threatened with unspecified action on allegations that he had misled United Nations Envoy, Anna Tibaijuka who was carrying an audit of the government's "urban clean-up" which left 700 000 homeless.

In the same month, Mutare mayor Misheck Kagurabadza was suspended on charges of failing to run the affairs of the Manicaland city.

Last month, Chegutu mayor, Francis Dhlakama was arrested by the police on the strength of an anonymous letter saying he had flouted tender procedures.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com