Car import rebates for all councillors

GOVERNMENT is introducing non-monetary benefits, including vehicle importation rebates for councillors across the country, as part of a broader incentive package for them, a Cabinet Minister has said.

The non-monetary benefits are designed to motivate and reward councillors for their hard work and dedication to the communities they serve.

By providing incentives like vehicle importation rebates, Government is demonstrating its commitment to supporting the well-being and success of local leaders.

The development is a positive step towards achieving Vision 2030, which includes improving the quality of life for all Zimbabweans and promoting economic growth and development.

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Daniel Garwe, revealed this recently in Gweru where he addressed councillors from six local authorities from the Midlands province who participated in a three day Heritage Based Training Workshop run by the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

Participants were drawn from Kwekwe City Council, Redcliff Municipality, Vungu Rural District Council (RDC), Shurugwi Town Council, Chirumhanzu RDC and Mberengwa RDC. Minister Garwe said the move is aligned with the country’s Vision 2030 goals, which aim to uplift the lives of citizens and promote sustainable development.

“You know what, President Mnangagwa is fully aware of welfare challenges faced by our councillors. The President has been working on making sure that councillors’ welfare is improved and as such the Second Republic is going to review the benefits of councillors,” he said.

The minister said President Mnangagwa was expected to soon launch the incentives programme to improve councillors’ welfare or benefits.

“The initiative by President Mnangagwa will ensure that councillors have access to non-monetary benefits. Let me give you one or two examples such as duty free vehicles and allocation of stands that are properly allocated and not self-allocated stands,” he said.

The ministry oversees the operations of 92 local authorities of which 60 are rural local authorities and 32 urban local authorities.

“This is done through the administration of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) and the Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13) together with other relevant Acts that interact with local authorities,” he said.

“The Acts then apprise the ministry’s functions to; Promote (Good Governance), Facilitate (Growth), Monitor (Implementation) and Regulate (Activities) Local Authorities.”

In a bid to improve the capacitation process of policymakers and staff in councils, Garwe said the Government views the inclusion of content, which will enlighten participants and promote a sense of national pride.

“It’s evident that many a times in the local government sector, meaningful dialogue and initiatives are either derailed or postponed due to the failure by political players and council staff to appreciate the bigger picture, which is, a better Zimbabwe for all, “ he said.

Addressing the same workshop, Cde Ishmael Mada, principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology said the workshop run by the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology is a vital Government programme, rolled out to capacitate the councillors to better appreciate their crucial role in national affairs and development.

“The primary mandate of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology is to decolonise the mind-set. This is achievable through restoring our Zimbabwean identity to all our citizenry as some of our citizens have lost identity,” he said.

“The programme entails inculcating a spirit of nationalism, inculcating patriotism (prioritising national interests ahead of one’s personal interests).”

Cde Mada said local authorities play a pivotal role in implementing Government programmes hence they need to equip councillors with the sense of patriotism and nationalism.