Mayors’ forum is void of political sentiments-Prez

Newly elected President of the Meme Mayors' Association comprising the Mayors of Kumba, Konye and Mbonge, John Kona Makia, has stated that, the association grouping municipal authorities is void of political affiliation as he looks forward to making exploits in this current mandate.

Makia, Mayor of Kumba III Council was speaking to reporters in his Council chambers Tuesday, September 9, as he put his election of new leader to the local Government officials in Meme into perspective.

Situating the new functioning philosophy, Makia said the days were long gone, when Mayors used to work according to their political parties and in the interest of only those who voted for them.

According to him, the position does not signify that the other Mayors lose some of their powers; rather it gives him the opportunity to function as a liaison officer of the Mayors as Government battles to sharpen some administrative procedures.

He sized up his functions as bordering on the harnessing and forwarding of the administrative accounts of the various councils to the appropriate offices for further movement to higher quarters.

Besides, Makia sounded optimistic that, the forum will serve as a solution ground for rifts pitting Mayors and their deputies alongside other senior Council staff, as well as, an assessment platform for the municipal authorities to evaluate their relationship with the various stakeholders that they work with. For example, the relationship between Mayors and their councilors.

Quizzed on the importance of such a gathering, the new Mayors' President who preferred to be called 'chairman' justified that, it will put development in the different Council areas on the same lane, given that successful management principles would be shared among colleagues.

Among other solution therapies to problems plaguing Councils, Makia cited issues related to forest management that have put Councils at sword position with their respective population. To him, Mayors would be treated to readjusting their approach to such issues, given their sensitive nature.

Problems such as those which require a population to leave their farms for decades like in Kumba III and the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve under Mbonge Council could require key discussions with persons concerned to understand the time frames needed for the maturity of the trees and cocoa plantations.

Another area that could get a holistic touch thanks to the Mayors’ Forum, Makia pointed out, will be working with technical partners and engineers. He assured that, grouping the Mayors together will help strengthen and step up their knowledge of relating with some technical services in terms of project design and implementation.

In the meantime, the Meme Mayors' liaison officer remains hopeful that within the next five years, the number of roads, culverts, schools, toilets, health services will be taken care of and that the indebtedness of Councils will be positive.