Revelations that central government appears to be sabotaging the Harare City Council in its efforts to clear blocked drains that have triggered flooding in most residential areas are a cause for concern.
Residents in most areas are having a torrid time in negotiating pools of water following the recent rains.
The city has witnessed streams of water flowing as the once sunshine city deteriorates further.
The city fathers say the government is still to respond to its appeal to employ ward-based workers on three-month contracts to undertake drainage and grass-cutting tasks, a critical programme that historically runs from December to March.
“Government is sabotaging the City of Harare drainage and grass cutting programme,” ward 16 councillor Denford Ngadziore told NewsDay.
“It's over three months as council. We are still waiting for government approval to employ ward-based contract workers for drainage and grass cutting. We have serious flooding in Bloomingdale, Ashdown Park, Matidoda, Lenana Park and Nkwisi Gardens.”
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It is a new low that Harare City Council has to seek approval from the parent ministry to employ workers on a contract basis.
That councils have to seek approval from the Local Government ministry for the appointment of employees is an anomaly in a poisoned environment in which politics is the staple food.
The root cause of some of the problems bedevilling local authorities is government overbearance over local authorities.
This becomes a problem if local authorities are run by opposition councillors and the parent minister is from the ruling Zanu PF party.
Since the abolition of executive mayors in 2008, the Local Government ministry has been controlling proceedings in local authorities in the background, especially Harare, where it vetoed key appointments.
Banker James Mushore’s appointment as Harare town clerk was blocked by then Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
The abolition of executive mayors came after the then opposition MDC party swept to power in urban local authorities which ended the ruling Zanu PF party stranglehold.
The abolition has left urban local authorities paralysed.
For Zanu PF, this has given the party a ticket to control affairs as they are supposed to seek approval from the parent ministry. It can delay granting approval and then blame opposition-run councils for shoddy service delivery.
Government has in the past turned “saviour” after directing Harare City Council to halt demolitions despite the existence of a court order authorising such action.
Councils need autonomy to be able to function properly. The first step towards that is the reintroduction of executive mayors.
In the absence of executive mayors, government has in the past appointed commissions which turned out to be feeding troughs for the politically connected.
Councils must be allowed to do their work unhindered by ministerial directives particularly on the appointment of employees.
Service delivery has virtually collapsed in Harare and the city fathers must be held accountable.
However, if they can’t employ contract workers, it means the buck stops at central government and it must be answerable to the flooding witnessed in Harare.
It is high time the government reviewed the power vested in the Local Government ministry if it is hindering service delivery.