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or from foreign concerns. The capital city is the hub for financial institutions.
Whether these institutions are banks, insurance industry or the stock markets, they are to be found in the capital city. How then can those charged with keeping up the image of the capital city be the lowest political persons in the political establishment of the country?

It is known that the capital city is populated by the captains of industry, senior Government officials, embassies, etc, such that the administration of the city has to be entrusted into capable hands that know the language of money and investment.

The situation that the City of Harare endured over the past five years was the worst since independence in 1980.
It is not enough just to clear out the previous councillors if at all they had the guts to stand again but to ensure that the political party that has the philosophy and policies to rescue the city is elected into office.

For the past 10 years, no change that was promised has come to Harare.
Actually, the city has become ungovernable and chaotic. There is no public transport to talk about. Most captains of industry have moved offices from the centre of the city and given way to hawkers and flea market traders.

Traffic has become unregulated with trading in various goods becoming the only business in town.
Those that are standing as saviours of the city are not being seen campaigning in public. The situation is such that the top political officials seem to have abandoned the city to its own fate.

It is time the top politicians realise that the capital city is the window through which the whole country can be seen by tourists and potential investors. The situation of lack of foresight in getting the service delivery to work again will not be tolerated by residents any longer.

But the only key to fix what is wrong in this city is in the hands of the residents. We are told that only 40 percent of the rates and water charges are up to date. In the satellite city of Chitugwiza, they resorted to collecting only half of what the residents owed so that the administration could pay their workers.

In Masvingo, all the former councillors were denied the opportunity to stand again by their own party. The governance of these cities and towns has to change to other political parties if the residents are to get any improved service delivery and investment for their local industry.

It is not enough to recycle councillors from the same party which has failed the residents. In many cases of local governance, the administration of these local entities has been found wanting in putting together credible systems of collecting revenue.

Residents are frustrated when paying rates and water charges by being made to wait in endless queues to such an extent that they do not bother to go back, while the local authorities fail to collect adequate revenue for service delivery and to pay salaries for their workers.
This time, the residents must vote for candidates that have their interests at heart.

We cannot continue to have formerly tarred roads being turned into dust roads as though the capital city is now a growth point.
Many visitors from outside Harare could not believe the general dilapidation of the city. This is the seat of government that has been turned into a dust bowl with filth everywhere.

Even in the so-called suburbs, the potholes have become endemic. It is better to drive away from Harare where the main roads are better maintained.
Do the residents deserve to be treated in such an abominable manner? The population of vehicles has increased in Harare, which is not a sign of wealth. This increase in vehicle population should have brought more money to the local authorities and insurance companies that could revive industry.

But we are told that only a third of the vehicles are fully insured and licensed. Why is the situation allowed to exist, especially, in the capital city? Now, there is talk of expanding the capital city when there is no revenue to do so.

What the city of Harare should embark on, as soon as the new council is instituted, is to see that local industry has been revived.
The other important issue is that of providing rented accommodation for young people who cannot afford to buy residential stands or even buy their own houses and flats.
These young people are genuinely employed and yet cannot find suitable accommodation as many flats and houses are being turned into business offices or other commercial activities.
Unless there is a change of political administration from the previous council, the residents are likely to get a raw deal.

The city has experimented for the past 10 years with a set of councillors that did not live up to expectations of the residents.
It is time now for another political party to take the reins of the administration of the capital city of Harare.