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Cde Abednico Ncube

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
RURAL District Council chairpersons have said they deserve to be issued with vehicles to assist them to effectively carry out their mandate.

Speaking during a meeting of Provincial Administrators and RDC chairpersons in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Moses Gutu, the Nyanga RDC chairperson, said council chairpersons deserve equal treatment as Members of Parliament as in some cases they do a lot of work on the ground entailing a lot of movement.

He said this during the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, Cde Abednico Ncube’s inaugural meeting with council chairpersons of rural local authorities.

Gutu told the Minister that councillors had a lot on their plate in terms of workload when compared to MPs, hence they deserve vehicles.

“In some instances, a councillor covers about five constituencies whereas an MP covers only one constituency. This means we travel a lot more than them. We’re requesting that government puts utmost consideration into this issue as we wish to drive ourselves through our wards, just like MPs,” he said.

The president of the Association of Rural District Councils, Guy Mutasa, said they also wanted the issue of allowances and salaries to be addressed.

In response, Cde Ncube assured them that the government was looking into their concerns.He urged the RDC council chairpersons to complement the government and not behave like pressure groups or trade unions.

“I would like to remind you not to behave like pressure groups or trade unions but work in support of government. As a Ministry we expect you to work hard in support of the government so that we develop and excel. Your agenda should be the same as that of government, hence when you make demands, let them be reasonable,” Cde Ncube said.

“Such interaction is critical given that both our respective offices largely exist for the same purpose and to serve the same constituency although at different levels. To a greater extent, both the Ministry and Rural Local Authorities, our core business is to promote rural development with a view of positively transforming the livelihoods of the rural majority.”