Harare — THE Local Government Board has approved the appointment of Mr Japhet Kabanga as Bindura town clerk.

He replaces Mr Paison Chikeya Mugogo, who was fired on allegations of corruption, incompetence and mismanagement.

The board vets and approves senior council appointments.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Kabanga confirmed his appointment had been approved and undertook to work hard to ensure the town attains city status by 2013.

"We would want to come up with new strategies and we would also want to ensure that the town becomes a city in 2013, according to one of our strategic plans," said Mr Kabanga.

Housing, improving services and filling vacant key posts were also top of his list of priorities.

"I am going to ensure that Bindura residents on the housing waiting list are allocated residential stands on the farms allocated by Government," he said.

"We will also go on a massive investment drive to attract industrialists so that we create employment."