The ManicaPost
| MUTARE has gone for months now without a substantive Town Clerk who is the city’s chief executive officer. |
The city is facing a plethora of problems that have negatively affected service delivery and it is the wish of residents that the person who is going to occupy the post must measure up to the task ahead.
At present, the local authority is dead broke as its expenditure far outweighs revenue collected, a situation that has resulted in workers going for years without pay.
It is our considered view that the person who is going to occupy Room 215 at the Civic Centre must be a competent technocrat who has vast experience in local governance issues.
The person must have a proven track record of achievements scored in the past because the state in which the municipality is at the moment does not require trials.
Most importantly, the candidate must have know-how of how the Mutare City Council operates because the municipality has some problems which are peculiar.
Now that the city fathers have sent the names of three candidates they shortlisted to the Local Government Board, we urge those in charge at the ministry to speed up the process and ensure that Mutare has a substantive town clerk soonest.
It is no secret that the country is facing economic difficulties that have affected municipalities but some of the problems we are facing in the city are because of incompetence and corruption.
The Town Clerk Mutare requires is a person who will be able to drive the city out of the doldrums by instituting measures that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Corruption has to be dealt with heavily while red tape is still stalling development in the city.
Despite harnessing water in abundance from the Pungwe, Small Bridge and Lake Alexandria, residents in the eastern border city are facing acute shortages because of an old and failing piping system that does not have the capacity to distribute the required mega-litres to a growing population.
The new Town Clerk must know very well that water availability is the backbone of residential and industrial development. There would be no meaningful development in the city and residents will continue boycotting paying rates if they don’t see water coming out of their tapes.
The sprouting of illegal settlements must be tackled head-on because Mutare, which used to be a marvel is slowly turning into a city of slums.
Seemingly unending problems facing housing projects such as Gimboki and Mutare Housing Federation must be solved quickly before they become more chaotic. In a nutshell, Mutare wants a person who is up to the task.
The right candidate must a hands on individual prepared to work overtime.
The mess the city is in requires a shrewd strategist who sees current threats as opportunities.
He should be focused and instill professionalism among the workers which was long lost because of non-payment of salaries.
With the right candidate in place, Mutare should retain its status as the cleanest city in the country.
