Civic leaders urged to be non- partisan

Civic leaders urged to be non- partisan
November 23, 2008

Choma Mayor Geoffrey Makaya has urged civic leaders not to allow partisan politics to derail development programmes.

Closing a UNICEF workshop on Water and Sanitation for the southern province Artisan Association at Choma hotel yesterday, mayor Makaya said there is danger to involve politics in development programmes.

He said council should rise above partisan politics and work to attain development in their respective wards.

Mr Makaya said tension between development agents such as technocrats and councillors over whose is superior in spearheading development is unnecessary and counter-productive.

He said politics should not interfere with the work of other stakeholders in the development process of the wards.

Mayor Makaya urged members of the Artisan association not to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to exploit communities out of the hard earned resources.

He said the work of artisan calls for sacrifice in addressing water and sanitation problems in rural communities.

He urged the artisans to fully implement the village level operation and maintenance of water points so that communities can have access to safe and clean water.

And Southern Province WASHE (Water Sanitation and Health) monitoring officer Leonard Mukosha said though the job on artisans was not rewarding enough, they played a crucial role in the maintenance of hand pumps and latrine construction in rural areas.

Mr Mukosha urged the artisans to continue sacrificing in maintaining hand pumps for the benefit of their respective communities.

ZANIS/CM/ENDS/MM