Five rural councils’ performance hailed

exceptional performance under difficult conditions but bemoaned poor performance by some urban local authorities.
Minister Chombo was speaking at the luncheon he hosted for delegates, including President Mugabe, who attended the official opening of the Fourth Session of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe at Rainbow Towers on Tuesday.

The five best performers are Goromonzi, Chipinge, Mbire, Runde and Zvimba Rural District Councils.
He said the councils managed to retain skilled staff and were able to recapitalise their operations using internal revenue. Among the plant and equipment that the councils bought are tractors, trucks, towed and motorised graders.

“May I, your Excellency, take this opportunity to commend the leadership of such local authorities for the positive focus and exceptional creativity they have demonstrated in this particular case. On the other hand we have some local authorities, the majority of which are urban, that are still grappling with serious viability challenges. Within this group are councils that continue to be found wanting on issues of good corporate governance,” he said.

Minister Chombo said his ministry would continue to take appropriate measures to rein in truant councils.
The Ministry has embarked on an aggressive “systems and responsive audit programme” that has so far covered 32 local authorities.
Minister Chombo commended treasury for allocating funds for the re-capitalisation of local authorities. Under the public sector investment programme US$72 million was made available to councils for water and sewer infrastructure in the 2011 budget.

To date only US$12.6 million has been disbursed to 15 local authorities. He said another US$73 million was allocated for the procurement of road construction and maintenance of equipment.
“However, beneficiary local authorities are yet to take delivery of the equipment as the tender adjudication process is still to be concluded,” he said.

Minister Chombo decried the poor attention that is accorded the country’s traditional leaders by the fiscus.
He urged Government to improve the welfare of traditional leaders.