Our source conducted an exclusive interview with the Mayor of Tarhuna, Mohamed Al-Kosher, who began by discussing the municipality’s plans to improve cleaning services and waste collection.
The municipality has also formed a committee to select temporary landfills within the city. Once these are approved by the main committee of the Ministry of Local Governance after site inspections, equipment will be supplied to activate the municipality’s cleaning services department so it can perform its duties properly.
On plans and projects for education and healthcare in the city, he said:
The municipality has prepared a strategic plan (2024–2028) to improve sectors, including education and health. Through this plan and with the help of specialists, the municipality is studying the core problems facing the city to propose solutions, while applying the principle of community participation at all levels.
On addressing citizens’ complaints:
Complaints are handled through the Local Contact Office, which was established by the Ministry of Local Governance under Decision No. 1500 of 2022. Complaints are received, referred to the relevant office depending on their nature, and resolved according to available resources.
Projects implemented within the municipality:
Work is underway to maintain administrative buildings to address the shortage of such facilities. The municipality is also working on activating projects related to service institutions in other sectors, such as health and education.
Priorities for road network projects in the city:
The priority is to implement road projects that address traffic congestion in the municipality and to achieve local development goals. The municipality has contracted projects to address infrastructure bottlenecks, including road, water, and sewage works.
On the challenges facing mayors of municipalities, he said:
“They are too many to count. For example, delays in disbursing operational and running budgets, lack of support especially in service areas that affect citizens’ daily lives, insufficient powers for mayors to fulfill their mandates, and the absence of financial allocations to cover the needs of vulnerable groups and low-income households in the municipality.”
On local revenues, he said:
“Increasing revenues in the municipality requires granting mayors the authority to issue decisions that serve the municipality’s interests, which would play a role in boosting revenues and benefiting both municipalities and their citizens.”
