Centre News Hub
Harare-The Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Associations (ZURRA) has expressed concern over the recent directive issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, instructing Local Authorities in the country to procure copies of the biography of President Emerson Mnangagwa titled A Life of Sacrifice.
ZURRA said the directive issued by Local Government Ministry Permanent Secretary, John Bhasera, is inconsistent with the principles of devolution as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
According to the directive, the books purchased by the local authorities will be distributed in schools so that learners appreciate the history of the President, a move that the residents’ union has condemned.
“As representatives of residents and ratepayers across the country, ZURRA maintains that Local Authorities possess a measure of autonomy and are primarily mandated to deliver essential public services. These include water supply, waste management, road maintenance, and public health services, many of which are currently under severe strain,” said ZURRA.
ZURRA spokesperson Marvelous Khumalo said residents in numerous communities continue to face persistent and urgent service delivery challenges that demand immediate financial and administrative attention.
” Within this context, the utilisation of public funds, whether directly or indirectly, for the procurement of a political publication raises serious concerns regarding prioritisation, accountability, and the prudent use of scarce public resources. Local authorities should not be compelled to divert limited financial resources to expenditures outside their core mandate of service delivery and community development,” said Khumalo.
ZURRA further said any form of coercion, whether explicit or implied, undermines the fundamental principles of good governance, transparency, and institutional independence.
“Public institutions must remain squarely focused on serving the needs and interests of residents, rather than advancing non-essential or extraneous expenditures. Accordingly, ZURRA calls upon the relevant authorities to withdraw or reconsider this directive and to allow local authorities to independently determine their expenditure priorities based on the pressing and legitimate needs of the communities they serve,” added ZURRA.
The directive has been criticised by residents who said it represents a conflation of private and public interests, amounting to an abuse of power and authority.
“The publisher of the biography should, like all other publishers, compete openly in the marketplace to market and sell its publication. The decision to purchase such a book should rest with individual citizens, rather than being imposed upon public institutions for purposes that do not serve the public interest,” said an aggrieved resident.
ZURRA said it remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting accountability, responsible governance, and the protection of residents’ interests throughout Zimbabwe despite the massive challenges residents across the country face.
Efforts to get a comment from Bhasera on ZURRA’s views were not fruitful.
