By Flata Kavinga
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube has warned City of Kwekwe councillors against rushing to report disputes to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), urging them instead to resolve their differences internally in line with the law.
Ncube made the remarks during a briefing ahead of a tour of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2)–aligned Central Business District (CBD) projects in Kwekwe.
“I am surprised that one of you, councillors, rushes to ZACC to report what I call rubbish,” Ncube said, adding that internal processes should be exhausted before involving external institutions.
He cautioned against what he termed “unorthodox means” of resolving disputes, saying such actions could undermine stability at the local authority.
The minister said peace and unity were critical for development in Kwekwe, urging councillors and management to address issues amicably through council meetings and established procedures.
“We want peace and tranquillity to prevail at the City of Kwekwe. All issues should be resolved internally in Kwekwe, not outside Kwekwe,” he said.
Ncube also highlighted Kwekwe’s role under the Second Republic’s development agenda, noting that the city was performing well in infrastructure development under NDS2. He credited this to cooperation between the mayor, town clerk and council staff, which he said had helped attract significant investment.
Zimbabwe is currently implementing NDS2, which follows the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and the first National Development Strategy (NDS1). NDS2 has 10 pillars, including infrastructure development.
The minister emphasised that local authorities must operate within the confines of existing laws and by-laws, regardless of internal disagreements.
“Each city has its own by-laws which should be followed. We must follow the rules of the book,” he said.
