Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
HWANGE Local Board (HLB) has successfully automated its systems, a development which will see it significantly improving its business operations.
In their recent newsletter, HLB Systems Administrator, Mr Nathan Ncube said procurement of a new rack server would go a long way towards improving efficiency in the council’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
“We have procured and set up a new rack server with a lockable cabinet. This system seeks to bring efficiency to our ERP where we are addressing legacy issues whereby users (clients) did not get their bills on time, payments were not automated or captured electronically. Ratepayers could not enquire about their real-time balances, as some receipts were captured manually. As it is, our ERP has successfully migrated to the new server,” he said.
He said they have also engaged their ERP service provider to train all their system users.
In a bid to improve connectivity, Mr Ncube said the council has also outsourced Virtual Private Network and fibre optic network from TelOne.
“Through this, we seek to achieve improved data security, operational efficiency, organised workflows, better customer service and real-time reporting. This is expected to contribute towards improved revenue collection and production of financial statements,” Mr Ncube said.
He said failure to fully utilise their ERP system was one of the reasons that led to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works rejecting HLB’s proposed 2024 Budget.
Mr Ncube said the Ministry stated that the council was not optimally using its current ERP besides annual licences being subscribed every year, while its proposed budget did not proffer interventions to ensure full and revitalised utilisation of the system.
“Through the new system, data for monthly bills is expected to be accurate while revenue clerks would be receipting straight into the system instead of manually. Clients will be able to be advised of their balances from any revenue office while monthly, quarterly and annual reports will be easy to produce,” he added.
ERP as a software system aids people in running their entire business, supporting automation and processes in finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain, services, procurement and more.
As part of enhancing its information and communication technologies (ICTs), Mr Ncube said HLB has also purchased laptops for its senior and middle management staff as well as its finance department personnel.
Meanwhile, HLB Engineering Services director, Engineer Ndabezinhle Twala has highlighted the need for the local authority to be fully equipped and build capacity for improved service delivery that satisfies the requirements of residents and all its stakeholders.
He said the council has managed to bring back to life most of its service and administrative vehicles, some of which had been down for over four years, following the hiring of a Class One mechanic.
“When it comes to service delivery, we can safely say we have significantly improved. We are now managing the maintenance of our vehicles such that we have reduced the downtime. This is largely due to the fact that we hired our own mechanic, unlike in the past where we used to take our vehicles to certified automobile repairers,” he said.
He, however, said the lack of requisite plant and equipment was adversely affecting the council from carrying out various projects mandated to it.
Eng Twala said they were finding it difficult to service stands as they do not have the equipment to do excavation work for sewer and water reticulation as well as opening up roads.
“We are in need of JCB (excavator), grader, water bowser and road roller. Failure to have this equipment leads to dysfunctional settlements like the one at Empumalanga Phase four. As a result, we are forced to hire and this is costly,” he added.
HLB had budgeted for the purchase of plant and machinery in its 2024 budget with expectations of utilising the devolution fund for procurement.
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