“Inexperience” and “sabotage” – Nampula mayor acknowledges bad governance

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“Inexperience” and “sabotage” – Nampula mayor acknowledges bad governance

4:06 CAT | 22 Sep 2020

Photo: DW

The mayor of Nampula, in northern Mozambique, cites “inexperience” and “sabotage” as among the causes of shortfalls in his governance, but says he has “learned his lesson” and promises better days ahead.

The mayor of Nampula, Paulo Vahanle, has broken his silence and acknowledged criticisms made by the city’s inhabitants. “We were new to governance and the others, who were supposed to lend us some experience, sabotaged us,” he said.

“All of this made it really difficult for us in the first days,” he acknowledges. “Mozambican society and the media have also played their part, helping us to improve the provision of services, for which we are grateful,” he adds.

Nampuladw.dw_ — *Mayor will focus on the development and cleanliness of the municipality*

The Renamo-elected mayor says the management of the city will focus in future on urban development and cleaning.

“The challenge is greater. We are increasingly fighting to reinforce the means of cleaning. We recently got rakes and brooms for all street sweepers, because we came to the conclusion that only with by our own efforts could we change our city and improve the provision of services,” he said.

Political promises

For some citizens of Nampula, the mayor’s promises are nothing more than political discourse to divert the wrath of the citizens.

“In the first term, he was unable to do anything, and in this second, which ends in 2023, he says he is going to change [the city], [but] I don’t believe it. What we see is that he starts a job but doesn’t finish it, and even kicks off yet another project in another neighbourhood,” resident Julio Pedro complains.

Pvdw.dw_ — *Paulo Vahanle is at the beginning of his second term as mayor*

Journalist and social activist Juma Aiuba says that Paulo Vahanle justifying himself on the grounds of “inexperience” is unfortunate. “The major problem in Nampula is a matter of competence. [Vahanle] should acknowledge that he has no competence. Experience is one thing, and competence is another,” he says.

“He is unable to set up a technically competent team. In other words, he created a team based only on [his] political trust. All presidents have no experience when they take up the reins for the first time; Mr. Ferreira in Chimoio had no experience, but he is managing,” Aiuba reasons.

Earlier this month, a Renamo team visited Nampula to suggest new strategies for managing the city.

Source: Deutsche Welle