Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
Government has ordered all 92 local authorities to suspend council workshops, restrict foreign travel and regulate the use of pool vehicles as part of measures to curb unnecessary spending and strengthen accountability.
In a directive addressed to all mayors and council chairpersons, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe instructed councils to implement these cost containment measures in line with the Treasury’s broader expenditure rationalisation agenda.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, cognisant of its oversight responsibility on local authorities, has developed expenditure containment measures for local authorities, in conformity with Treasury’s broader expenditure rationalisation agenda,” reads the directive.
Under the new measures, all workshops are suspended immediately, except those directly related to the review or formulation of strategic plans and budget processes, which must be held strictly within each local authority’s jurisdiction.
For foreign travel, only trips fully funded by the host or inviting institution will be allowed. Officials undertaking such travel are required to submit a detailed post-mission report to the Ministry within seven working days of their return.
The circular also directs tighter regulation of local authority pool vehicles, warning against unauthorised or non-essential use, and mandates that councils establish internal controls to ensure compliance.
Minister Garwe reminded councils that their primary responsibility remains the provision of basic services to residents. He stressed that performance assessments would now be based on Minimum Service Delivery Standards, which will serve as benchmarks for service delivery going forward.
“The central thrust of your mandate is the provision of core services to communities. To this end, all planning, budgeting, and implementation efforts must be aligned with the Minimum Service Delivery Standards, which shall serve as the benchmark for performance assessment going forward,” he said.
The directive forms part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate wasteful expenditure, strengthen accountability, and ensure that limited resources are directed toward tangible improvements in water supply, waste management, and road infrastructure across municipalities.
