The new mayor of Musina, Cllr Carol Phiri, says her council will prioritise the challenges of potholes, job creation and the continuation of providing basic services to the indigent.

She said this during her mayoral acceptance speech last week. According to her, the plan of the new council will be to build on the strengths and achievements of the outgoing council. “We shall continue to strive for Musina to become a preferred investment destination. We shall interact with local business organisations and other social partners to develop and implement a comprehensive local economic development plan as outlined in our IDP. We shall work with organised labour to ensure that we maintain high levels of cooperation and institutional stability. The extension of the indigent programme to the needy will be given supreme priority. We shall develop and strengthen ward committees as basic units of governance.”

Phiri says she is extremely honoured to have been afforded the opportunity to join and work with a team of dedicated, tried and tested members of the Musina Municipality. “As part of celebrating the trust and responsibilities bestowed on us by the people of Musina, I wish to affirm that we shall remain focused on realising the dreams, aspirations and interests of all the citizens of Musina. As a team of young and old politicians, united in action, we shall continue to represent a common will to advance change and development in our communities.”

She urged the people of Musina to work with the municipality to develop the community. “Our communities still face disturbing levels on socio-economic inequalities. Our duty is to create a conducive environment, so that people can have increased access to better and quality services, decent jobs. We also plan on strengthening community participation, so that we can build effective, accountable and clean local government. All these challenges need our collective efforts to resolve. I have no doubt that with this dedicated team of councillors, officials and our stakeholders, we will be able to bring a better life to all our people.”

* Born and bred at Musina 27 years ago, Phiri is not new to administration and politics. Probably being the youngest mayor in the country, she passed Grade 12 at Musina High School in 2002 and she holds a national diploma in management from the Tswane University of Technology (TUT). Before she became mayor of Musina, she was employed by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, where she was responsible for budget, salaries and expenditure.

While working with the said department, she gained more knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations and Debt Management.