MOSES MATENGA
The MDC Alliance dominated council is in a dilemma over whose policies to pursue between the vision of its leader Nelson Chamisa’s Smart cities agenda and President Emerson Mnangagwa’s vision as enshrined in Zanu PF and government policies.
While Chamisa last week met the MDC Alliance councillors in Harare where he emphasised the need for councillors to pursue the Smart city agenda, government, through the Administrator’s office ordered the elected officials to pursue Mnangagwa’s government policies.
“You should hit the ground running in line with the national mantra as enunciated by His Excellency President Emerson Mnangagwa. There President has promised listening servant leadership. You should also be exemplary through the way you run this lower but very critical tier of government,” Cathrine Kampila, Provincial Administrator for Harare metro recently said.
She said President Mnangagwa was expecting action from council to achieve set goals.
“We should take up that vision and open Harare for investment, seeing that Harare is the capital and leading city of the country.
She also said Harare should work towards government’s re-engagement agenda, a key element in President Mnangagwa’s campaign trail.
“You have all heard what the President expects of us. Good corporate governance must be adhered to as well as adherence to the code of conduct that you will be taken through,” she said.
However, the MDC Alliance leader said Harare was MDC Alliance space and the party will implement its policies.
“These are our zones of autonomy, these are our spaces we want to deliver smart products, smart cities, smart services in terms of smart schools, smart hospitals, smart roads, street lighting that is possible, spaghetti roads, that is also possible, stadiums also and that is possible.
“We want to see that kind of charter, regular feedback meetings, we are in government at local level and we must deliver the residents’ expectations,” Chamisa.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume, who is also a councillor said the party will not be bulldozed into implementing government policies as they were pursuing their agenda that won them all but one seat in the capital.
“We were elected on a Smart cities manifesto and that is what the Harare residents want and that is what we will implement. We will not implement a losing manifesto. It will not only be illogical but suicidal in relation to what Harare residents want,” Mafume said.
“Where there is convergence, maybe but where there is no convergence, our smart cities will prevail.”
“We do hope the levels of literacy has improved with the coming in of July Moyo. If he persists with levels of illiteracy shown by his predecessors, they will continue to be punished in the polls. Urban citizens are enlightened and we will implement our smart cities programme.”
