Local Gvt Minister Daniel Garwe
By Correspondent
Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) has written to the Ministry of Local Government to stop the forthcoming basic orientation for Mayors and Chairpersons.
The lecture is to be conducted under the Chitepo School of Ideology at Rainbow Towers in August.
In a letter, through Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the organisation said the move contravenes the Constitution.
“We have asked the Ministry of Local Government to cease and desist from holding a so-called basic orientation training.
Chitrest protested that the basic orientation training offends several provisions of the Constitution.
“(It)amounts to a grave violation of constitutional rights to impartial and non-partisan administrative conduct & the freedom of assembly and association.
“The residents association said the contents of the invitation letter…were contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
An Indoctrination Drive
The Ministry of Local Government had on 16 August wrote an invitation letter to all Mayors and Chairpersons.
It invited them to attend a two-day basic orientation training to be facilitated by the Chitepo School of Ideology.
The school is an affiliate of the ruling ZANU PF political party.
The Ministry said it is necessary to expose the Councillors to the ideals of national security and patriotism.
However, this incensed Chitrest into countering with the cease and desist letter.
Meanwhile, critics have accused ZANU PF of seeking to indoctrinate the mainly CCC Councillors.
