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Mr George Makunde

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Newly-elected Chitungwiza councillors have held a two-day induction workshop which ended yesterday to equip them with requisite skills needed in running council affairs.The induction is part of a programme being conducted by Government to enlighten councillors on their mandate.
Chitungwiza town clerk Mr George Makunde said the induction programme had changed the councillors’ perceptions.

“They have started to appreciate how the council is run,” he said. “The councillors are also realising the problems that come with running Chitungwiza. They are being taught of the Zimbabwe Local Government systems, frameworks for Local Government, the ideal councillor, policy formulation, implementation and monitoring, and gender main-streaming, among other issues.”

Officially opening the induction programme on Saturday, district administrator Mrs Zivai Chisango urged the town’s councillors to work within the confines of the law and shun corrupt practices.

She said council business was a social function and urged councillors not to enrich themselves through unorthodox means, saying they had volunteered to serve the residents who voted them into office.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing secretary Mr Killian Mupingo said the induction was going on well with most cities and towns having already completed the exercise. Government introduced the national induction and training after it realised that it was important to ensure councillors were fully aware of their mandate before assuming office.

Harare councillors completed their induction last Friday in Kadoma where Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, who officially opened the programme, urged local authorities to embrace principles of good corporate governance in managing council affairs and to be accountable to residents.