By Ruvarashe Dhliwayo
Addressing journalists this afternoon, he said,
“The political problems in urban councils have directly led to most of the rot seen today,” said Mwonzora.
“Urban councils have been turned into campaign fields and tools by political parties, deviating from their constitutional role of service delivery.
“Our people, regardless of their political affiliations, place their trust in urban councils to deliver quality services that enhance their lives and those of their children.
“The management of our urban councils should be about the welfare of all citizens and not a weaponised political campaign tool.
“It is very insensitive to use uncollected waste, poor drainage, impassable roads and dry taps as campaign tools.
“We hold elections once every five years in this country and yet spend every day in those five years preparing for the next election. “When are we going to attend to the needs of our people?”
Mwonzora said the challenges faced by urban dwellers were a reflection of the country’s economic state of affairs in terms of health, education, national infrastructure condition and revenue inflows to the fiscus and financial resource requirements
“Urban centres are characterised by: dirty roads and inappropriate service delivery systems, decayed and dysfunctional infrastructure, rampant and run away corruption activities, a polarised and poisoned political working environment, dwindling revenue inflows into council coffers,” he said.
Mwonzora said his party desired to forge a new path in urban councils focusing on service delivery.
“Our immediate efforts to restore service delivery include: lobbying for government to settle its council bills and release the appropriate funds through organisations such as ZINARA, discourage party politicking in councils and direct all our councillors to focus on service delivery and punish any and all councillors caught engaging in corrupt practices.”
