Mlondolozi Ndlovu

Political parties are behind the failure of performance in the country’s capital members of Residents associations have said.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Media Centre on Thursday Chitungwiza Residents Association’s leader Marvelous Khumalo and Combined Harare Residents Association Mfundo Mlilo said there was need for political parties to field competent candidates.

‘The problem with some politically appointed Mayors is that they do not know their duties, such that it becomes very hard for them to execute their duties’ said Khumalo further revealing that at one time Chitungwiza Mayor Philip Mutoti thought the Town Clerk was his boss.

His counterpart from CHRA Mlilo echoed Khumalo’s sentiments saying there was a lack of ideological clarity not only in ZANU PF but also in the MDC.

‘The problem in Zimbabwe is that the MDC has become a stumbling block in finding a solution to the city’s problems, because of their policy inconsistence’ said Mlilo who questioned how an MDC run council which claims to be labour based party.

Mlilo also expressed concern on the recent houses demolitions in which he said the political parties especially the ruling party was parceling out illegal land to the people and later instigate the city council to destroy them as a political grandstanding.

Among the solutions that were raised by the Residents association leaders was the need for the council to make sure that those who built illegal structures are given development orders before houses are completed a move he said would save the city council of the cost demolitions and have creating tension with the residents.

They further stressed the need for council to desist from selling undeveloped lands.
The meeting was attended by journalist and was held under the topic: Has the recent demolitions by the Harare City council addressed the city’s problems?