AN opposition legislator has called for a ministerial statement on the alleged takeover of Chitungwiza service delivery by religious leader prophet Walter Magaya.
Zengeza West legislator Innocent Zvaipa raised a point of national interest in the National Assembly arguing that while the Local Government and Public Works minister has the authority to issue policy directives, they should be done in line with the Constitution, emphasising transparency and accountability.
He said local authorities were an important tier of governance in Zimbabwe.
“We are requesting the Local Government and Public Works minister to bring a ministerial statement on the unbelievable transactions that are being imposed by the ministry on local authorities such as the recent Walter Magaya’s purported takeover of Chitungwiza council service delivery functions,” Zvaipa said.
“We need the minister to advise us the scope of the said investment and whether it has gone through due diligence work by the council and the ministry.”
Government recently roped in Magaya’s Wistmer Investments to undertake a water and sewer reticulation project to address service delivery challenges in Harare’s dormitory town.
The Chitungwiza Municipality has been failing to provide water consistently for years.
In 2008, Chitungwiza was the epi-centre of a nationwide cholera epidemic linked to poor water sanitation.
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According to reports, Magaya’s Wistmer Investments will manage waste collection, sewer management, the regulation of settlement markets and businesses and water supply in the town.
Magaya’s involvement in the project had divided opinion among various stakeholders until the government stepped in.
The Wistmer Investments proposal covers waste management, water supply, markets, transport, light industry, infrastructure development, ICT perception and town planning.
