Zimpapers Logo

Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter
Harare residents are demanding a town clerk after the city clocked a month without one, as the MDC-led council is failing to appoint an acting one following the arrest of incumbent Engineer Hosiah Chisango for alleged corruption.

The city is in a quandary as the only substantive head, health services director Dr Prosper Chonzi turned down an offer to be the acting town clerk, saying his department was overwhelmed with Covid-19 issues.

In an interview, Combined Harare Residents Association programmes manager Mr Rubeun Akili said the continued vacuum in the position was not healthy for the local authority.

“This leadership vacuum has a bearing on social service delivery as some decisions which require the town clerk will not be made, there is no one at the moment to guide the city’s strategy and vision, this is contributing to the poor service delivery in Harare,” he said.

“The vacuum created by the absence of the town clerk has seen the emergency of de-facto ones causing confusion at Town House. We call upon the town officials to urgently appoint an acting town clerk so that the city can move forward.”

Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said the local authority deserved to have all its directors in place.

“The absence of a town clerk creates a huge gap in the governance and administration of the City of Harare,” he said. “Service delivery deteriorates without the accounting officer.”

“The town clerk has the mandate of steering the council to execute its legal mandate.”
Mr Shumba urged Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo to put in place the Local Government Board which has the mandate to finalise the appointment and dismissals of senior council workers.