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Municipal Reporter
Chairpersons and chief executives of rural district councils want Government to simplify their performance-based contracts saying they do not understand them.The Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe has resolved to approach Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo to make the contracts user friendly.
Government recently slashed salaries and benefits of town clerks and chairpersons of local authorities by 50 percent and ordered them to submit performance contracts and warned that those who failed to meet their targets would be fired.
This was confirmed by ARDCZ president Alderman David Mutasa in an interview recently.
“Most chairpersons and chief executives do not understand these performance-based contracts. We have resolved to approach the ministry over the issue so that they can revise them and come up with a version which is user friendly,” he said.
Government recently adopted the Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) system under Zim-Asset which requires council bosses to submit performance-based contracts.
“The roll out of IRBM to local authorities has commenced and will be consummated beginning 2014. To this end I hereby direct, in terms of Section 155 of the Rural District Councils Act and Section 313 of the Urban Councils Act that all town clerks, secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of department will draw up and sign a performance contract according to Zim-Asset’s key result areas for the managers and a copy of performance contracts should be lodged with ministry by December 31,” reads part of the letter dispatched to all the country’s 92 local authorities.
Minister Chombo warned that it was not ‘business as usual’ as he urged local authorities to embrace the Government priorities as encapsulated in the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.
The association also demanded that their councils buy them vehicles.
“Most of our councillors are not going to buy expensive vehicles, so it’s unlike members of Parliament who buy expensive vehicles. Most of our councillors will not get that kind of money.
“We requested for that so that the business of council within the areas of their jurisdiction will be enhanced. You are talking of someone who has got to cover an area with a radius of at least 50km without means of transport,” he said.
Alderman Mutasa, who is also Makoni Rural District chairperson, said councils do not have a grant from Government and unlike in other countries they have to rely on ratepayers’ money.
He said despite being marginalised, the rural folk were very supportive of councils and paid their dues through headmen.
“As chairpersons of RDCs, we have to visit all wards to appreciate problems affecting the people.”
Online Reporter