Delays in transfer of services to municipalities ‘undermining local democracy’ – Daviz Simango

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Delays in transfer of services to municipalities ‘undermining local democracy’ – Daviz Simango

2:34 CAT | 04 May 2016

O País (File photo) / Daviz Simango, mayor of Beira, capital of Sofala central province

Education, health and transport are among the services which the city of Beira is demanding to manage autonomously. “It doesn’t make sense that other cities have autonomy to manage the entire public sector and a city like Beira, the second largest in Mozambique, continues to depend on some person’s will,” Beira mayor Davis Simango says.

Simango first demanded the management of Beira’s primary services five years ago. “One day, these same people who make decisions will have to say who took decisions that failed to comply with the law, because it is the law that public transport and primary health care should be handled by the city council.”

The mayor of Beira recalls that a year ago, when he petitioned President Filipe Nyusi to transfer powers, the response was positive and the indication was that the management of services would be transferred to the municipality.

Simango now believes that the president has done his part and it is up to the provincial government to realize that they are in the wrong and retract, so as to stop undermining local democracy.

Another issue raised by the municipality is that the infrastructure in these sectors, which Simango insists should by law be under municipal management, is being alienated. “Many education, health and transport facilities that should be under municipality management are being handed over to third parties,” he complains.

Source: O País