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(HERALD) New mayor’s vision for Harare

New mayor’s vision for Harare
Herald Reporter

HARARE’S new mayor, prominent businessman, lawyer and sports administrator Mr Muchadeyi Masunda, has promised to use his business connections to improve service delivery. Mr Masunda’s vision for Harare also includes reclaiming the management of water from Zinwa and to retain the present city management team at Town House. In an interview yesterday, Mr Masunda said he was well connected to influential people and that he was going to use that influence to improve the city’s service delivery which has been on a downturn for some time.

"My main focus is on service delivery. I want to ensure residents get the service they are entitled to," he said.

He said the city would concentrate on core service delivery issues such as water provision, roads, grass cutting, traffic and streetlights, and refuse collection.

Mr Masunda said in the two weeks he has been Harare mayor, he has managed to win the hearts and souls of some leading companies who are prepared to partner the city in providing services to the people.

He described some of the city’s problems as soft issues that require the participation of the building owners or their tenants to solve. He said such issues have to do with cleaning of building fronts and repairing of pavements leading to business premises.

Mr Masunda said the bigger issues have to do with water, traffic and streetlights.

He also said some companies have already shown enthusiasm to engage the city and provide the required services.

Asked how as City of Harare, he hopes to solve the city’s water problems when the management of water was transferred to Zinwa, Mr Masunda said his council would have to constructively engage with Zinwa and Central Government to have the transfer reversed in the best interests of residents.

"The provision of water is one of the areas to be dealt with by this new council. Indications are that not all is well within Zinwa in terms of fulfilling the mandate of providing water. We will have to engage Zinwa constructively to improve on provision of water," he said.

Mr Masunda said if Zinwa indicates that it has no capacity to deliver the mandate, the city would be happy to take over

the responsibility.

"We will do that in consultation with Central Government. It is a matter that the city has to constructively address with Zinwa and Government," said Mr Masunda.

He expressed confidence in town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi and his management team and said he was prepared to work with them.

"I have been very impressed with the depth and breadth — capacity-wise — of the town clerk and his team. I was pleasantly surprised. From outside you do not see it. They need our support and I have assured them of that support," he said.

Mr Masunda agreed with Government that the mayoral mansion would no longer be used as the official residence of the mayor but would instead be used for civic functions.

He said he had no intentions of occupying the house and did not expect council to pay for his rentals and other accommodation-related bills.

"I have my own things. I do not see why residents of Harare have to be lumbered (with additional expenses)," he said.

Mr Masunda welcomed the amendments to the Urban Councils Act, which eliminated the post of executive mayor. He said that arrangement did not apply to Zimbabwe and that he was among the people who warned that the system would fail.

He said the creation of the post had brought about a lot of problems, which resulted in unpleasant confrontations between the mayors and their town clerks.

"You cannot have two bulls in one kraal. There will be no head-butting between the town clerk and me. We sit down and agree on deliverables," he said.

Mr Masunda said he was not aligned to any political party and if the need arises he would be prepared to brief the Head of State and that of the opposition on developments at Town House.

He said affiliation to any political party would send the wrong signals especially to his career as a lawyer who represents all people regardless of race, colour or political orientation.

"I have no obligation to attend political rallies. I will only attend civic functions. If I have to brief the Head of State or of opposition, I will do so.

Mr Masunda is chairman of 12 companies and director of two and is also a trustee of the Tennis Zimbabwe apart from being the outgoing president of the Zimbabwe Golf Association.

Labels: HARARE, MAYOR

posted by MrK @ 5:04 AM