THE opposition MDC Alliance has found itself in a spot of
bother over what promises to be a contentious process in the selection of
mayors and council chairpersons, with Harare proving to be a political banana
skin.
Opposition leader and presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa
set up an 18-member committee to interview prospective candidates to lead the
23 urban and two rural councils won by his pre-election coalition.
The team led by former Mufakose MP, Paurina Mupariwa and
included residents’ associations, local government experts and senior MDC
Alliance members had a torrid time to pick who should lead the municipalities
the party has majority in.
As usual, Harare and Bulawayo will headline debate on how
the opposition performs in the next five years in the run up to the 2023
elections.
Party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed that the
committee had completed its work.
“We have set up a committee and invited prospective
candidates, who want to be selected as mayors or council chairpersons to apply.
For Harare, we interviewed five candidates, while Bulawayo we had 14 people
applying as prospective mayors,” Mwonzora said.
“We now await the formal composition of the councils and
the process of selecting the mayors or council chairpersons according to
procedure. As a party, we have done our homework and have people with both
capacity and integrity to run local authorities for the benefit of our people.”
While Mwonzora said he was not at liberty to discuss names
of interviewed candidates, sources said businessperson Ian Makone will lead the
cast of those vying to lead Harare.
Others interviewed include Enock Mupamaonde, People’s
Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume, Herbert Gomba and one (Budiriro
ward 33 councillor-elect) Kunashe.
Representing residents, Combined Harare Residents
Association chairperson, Simbarashe Moyo said they participated in the process
and were hopeful that councillors will elect the best from list the panel
recommended.
“We made our recommendations as the panel and we are
hopeful the party will do justice by allowing the best candidate to lead these
council’s. We looked at experience, ability to turn-around cities and their
respective towns as well as being able to engage the residents. We made our
recommendations to the party for a final decision on all 23 urban councils and
two rural local authorities,” Moyo said.
NewsDay Weekender understands that Makone has a BSc in
Economics and a Masters in Research, while Mupamaonde did business studies and
has an MBA and Mafume holds a law degree as well as a masters. Third-term councillor
Gomba has a social science first degree and a masters in policy and governance.
“Initially, it seems the party was ready to give the job to
Makone because they thought he would automatically be the best qualified. But
now it seems all candidates are equally qualified, presenting the party with a
‘positive’ headache,” a source said. There have been muted protests from
Bulawayo, some bordering on ethnic divisions, amid claims most of the elected
councillors on the MDC Alliance ticket were “Shona speakers”.
But Mwonzora defended the work of the committee and the
party’s decision to conduct interviews.
“We have a very professional process that is open and fair
to all. Our aim is not to select people on the basis of their origin, but on
competence,” he said. Newsday
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