Maravi

PF's interference with mayors' civic duties is a circus

PF's interference with mayors' civic duties is a circus - Nawa
By Speedwell Mupuchi
Monday February 19, 2007 [02:00]

FORMER Lusaka mayor Patricia Nawa has described Patriotic Front's interference with mayors and councillors' civic duties as a circus. In an interview at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Friday night, Nawa said councillors and mayors' first allegiance was to those who elected them into office. Nawa said the Patriotic Front (PF) should not pressure Lusaka Mayor Suzan Nakazwe over her civic duties because she was mayor for all people. She explained that although political parties had their own way of doing things, immediately one becomes a mayor or councillor, they cease being "mother's child".

Nawa explained that the mayor was the headman/woman of the city. "Including the President, he is under the mayor. In the past when a dignitary like Chinese President Hu Jintao did, he should have come to pay a courtesy call on the mayor. It is also the mayor's duties to receive dignitaries and attend to all state functions," she said. "As headman, she is supposed to be everywhere; where there is cholera, wherever there is a problem. So it is not fair to threaten her." Nawa said elected leaders' allegiance to their parties should not be at the expense of the people who elect them into power.

The Patriotic Front has threatened to dismiss Mayor Nakazwe and other councillors from the party for receiving Chinese President Hu Jintao when he visited the country two weeks ago. The party argues that since it was not invited, there was no way the PF mayor could attend the function. The PF has also stopped its mayors from receiving or sending off President Levy Mwanawasa at the airport except when he is leaving on official duties.

Labels: GOVERNANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PF

posted by MrK @ 11:52 PM