Martin Muleya
City of Mutare Mayor Simon Chabuka last Friday threatened to dissolve the local authority’s 15 member environmental committee over incompetence.
Since its inception the committee chaired by (Ward 6) Cllr Sekai Mukodza who is deputized by (Ward 3) Cllr Tichaenzanisa Maita has nothing to show-not even minutes- for the past 18 months in office.
Addressing councilors during the 1324th full council meeting at Civic centre Mayor Chabuka did not mince his words when he told Environmental committee chairperson Cllr Sekai Mukodza that her committee was letting the local authority down.
“I think you are letting us down as council. We are getting backlashes from residents when they ask us what we are doing with regards to issues of protecting our environment. There has been a lot of degradation on the environment. At local level we have Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA), they have very good proposals and Mutare Rivers Rehabilitation (MRRI) has good initiatives. We have some other cities that have also have environmental committees but are doing well. So should we dissolve our committee and have training before we can set up another committee?” queried the Mayor.
In a telephone interview Cllr Mukodza defended her committee saying the role of protecting the environmental rested on Environmental Management Agency (EMA) since they have the arresting powers.
“It is not like that members in the Environmental committee do not know how to come up with recommendations or resolutions. But the situation is as councilors our role is to make By-laws and policies. In Zimbabwe and the world over countries and organizations’ like EMA have laws and policies that protect our environment. So our role as councilors in this committee is to monitor and supervise if council adheres to these policies and laws,” she said.
Asked on how many recommendations they have made to council concerning environmental issues since they assumed office, Cllr Mukodza skirted on the question although she was quick to note that her committee had a cordial relationship with MAYA to an extend that they heed some of their advice.
MAYA Programs Coordinator Tinashe Muzama urged the environmental committee at Civic centre to join hands with like-minded organizations that are fighting head-on issues of climate change.
“I think it is not necessary to dissolve the committee but the best way is to combine efforts. Climate crisis is upon thus we are willing to work hand in glove to address some of these climate change challenges. We have joined the global movement of cities which are endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty- this a topical issue and there is an opportunity for council’s environmental committee to tap into that. This treaty emphasizes on fuel gas development that occur in cities,” Muzama highlighted.
A member of the Mutare Rivers Rehabilitation Initiative (MRRI) Lynne James sang from a different hymn book as she insisted that issues to do with the environment were seemingly not urgent on the committee’s list as gaining traction has been a slow and frustrating head banging experience.
“We have tried to engage the Environmental committee on multiple occasions, as we feel strongly that the city’s growing environmental issues require an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach if we are going to succeed. We have since invited the committee chairperson Cllr Mukodza to join us in key stakeholder meetings, particularly around the deforestation crisis that Mutare faces and have asked what activities the environmental committee was involved in, in the city but answers are vague and evidence is lacking,” said James.
She said MRRI has been environmentally active on the ground since September 2021 and has been trying to engage Council repeatedly having realized the seriousness of the environmental challenges facing the city.
“It has been an interesting and often incredibly frustrating experience being residents and ratepayers of our own city who are voluntarily out on the ground every week. We continually engage with residents on key environmental issues and are becoming known in our Mutare communities. So much that residents will even call to report issues to us. When you tell us now that the city’s 15 member environmental committee has nothing to show for the past 18 months in office we are not surprised,” added James.
