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Blessings Chidakwa Herald Reporter
LOCAL authorities should hasten to come up with concrete plans to operationalise the blue print on service delivery that was launched by President Mnangagwa last month as part of their contributions towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Starting next year, the President will be chairing a bi-annual review meeting to assess the performance of all local authorities in a move aimed at reversing the deteriorating service delivery in towns and cities. President Mnangagwa launched the “Call to Action -No Compromise to Service Delivery” blueprint which provides guidelines that local authorities must take to ensure they provide efficient services that are in line with the country’s quest to achieve a middle-income economy by 2030. Addressing mayors, chairpersons of councils, and senior council officials from all the 92 local authorities in the country in Harare yesterday, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Winston Chitando said it was time to put into action what the President has instructed so that people start feeling the benefits of improved service delivery.
“We all have the blueprint now, it is time to put into action what is in the blueprint,” he said. “Let us see concrete plans on how you are going to collect garbage, how you are going to provide clean water, public water among other services. Our people must start feeling the benefits of improved services.”
Minister Chitando said councils needed to digitise and adopt the enterprise resource planning to help them collect revenue and manage their finances.
“Today there is no need for people to queue and pay bills. That must be done from their phones. You need to adopt ERP. It helps in improving revenue streams and administering of funds. “
Revenue collection, said Minister Chitando, was one of the biggest problems bedevilling local authorities. The debtors’ book for many local authorities was huge and the Ministry will help in coming up with a legislative framework to allow councils to affectively collect revenue.
“On our part, my ministry is coming up with a legislative framework that allows you to recover your money from some of these organisations.”
Local authorities need to come up with spatial plans to ensure that the allocation of land in their jurisdictions was done in a proper manner.
The Minister implored councils to be compliant with laws as stipulated in the blue print and other acts that govern their operations.
“You need to ensure that you follow the laws especially on the management of estate accounts”.
On the review of conditions of services for councillors, Min Chitando said before the end of the year, the Ministry will issue a circular addressing the issue.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr John Basera said there is a need to quickly identify Vision 2030 enablers so that councils can pursue quick wins projects in line with the country’s vision.
Online Reporter