Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe, has commended the Beitbridge Rural District Council for procuring 20 motorbikes for councillors to increase mobility and monitoring of capital projects.
Speaking during the handover of the motorbikes to rural district councillors over the weekend, Garwe said the move was part of the Government’s initiative to enhance service delivery in local authorities.
He said building capacity of the councillors was important to improve their mobility and visibility in the wards, enabling them to efficiently carry out their duties.
The motorbikes were handed over as part of the Government’s “A Call to Action” plan, aimed at strengthening local governance and ensuring that councillors can effectively reach all areas within their jurisdictions.
Under the latest project, the councillors will repay the amounts advanced for the motorbikes as loans, making the programme sustainable for local governance.
Minister Garwe emphasised the importance of enhancing councillors’ mobility saying this would facilitate the delivery of their duties and enable them to pinpoint areas needing attention in a timely manner.
“This initiative aligns with the Government’s Vision 2030, focusing on transforming Zimbabwe into an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society,” he said.
“We have heard that some of the councillors have been failing to reach out to all areas in their wards due to mobility issues. This was compromising development and now we expect to see an improvement in that area.
“You will realise that President Mnangagwa recently launched two critical blue prints, which speak to improving service delivery in 92 local authorities nationally, and the use of urban land in 32 urban local authorities.
“It’s pleasing to note that Beitbridge RDC is already making headway in the right direction.”
Minister Garwe reiterated that the Government will not take lightly to any local authority compromising services delivery nationwide.
He said more developmental projects were being rolled out in rural areas in terms of the establishment of village business units, water and sanitation, schools and clinics construction.
He said community members should also rise to the occasion, and have a social contract with local authorities in implementing social and economic development projects.
“We expect to see an improvement in councils in handling water and sewer reticulation, roads construction, putting an end to space and land barons and the provision of basic services and social amenities,” said the Minister.
Beitbridge RDC acting chief executive officer, Mr Peter Ncube, said the motorbikes were procured through a loan arrangement, facility which the councillors are servicing from their monthly allowances.
He said the instalments were planned to be affordable, having been calculated and arranged in a manner that will see the loan extinction within the councillors’ current service term.
“Our district is wide with sparsely located communities, some of our wards stretches for over 30kms, with the provision of this tool of trade to our councillors, accessibility to all communities in their respective wards is assured,” said Mr Ncube.
“This shall improve on community engagements and participation in decision making, as all communities shall be easily accessed, engaged and consulted from time to time for their input in any council decisions.”
Beitbridge RDC chairperson, Clr Oscar Chiromo said the local authority will continue to create an environment for collaboration and investment with other development agencies to turn around the lives of many people in the area.
He said they will continue to implement a number of policies to spread development to every ward in line with the envisaged rural transformation concept. _@tupeyo
Bongani Ndlovu