Government hands over 17 motorcycles, skip bin to boost Kwekwe service delivery

THE Government has handed over 17 motorcycles and a skip bin worth ZIG4 million to Kwekwe City Council to improve mobility for councillors and strengthen refuse collection services in the city. The development is expected to enhance service delivery and improve council responsiveness to residents’ needs.

Addressing council management, councillors and residents during the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said the provision of essential work tools had already begun yielding positive results, enabling councillors to access congested and remote areas more efficiently.

“It is indeed a befitting honour to address you on this remarkable occasion of the handover of 17 motorbikes to Kwekwe City Councillors and commissioning of a skip bin truck valued at over ZIG4 million, procured by the Kwekwe City Council using internal revenue,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the gesture aligned with the New Dispensation’s commitment to improving service delivery across local authorities under President Mnangagwa’s administration. He said councillors were key drivers of grassroots governance and essential to the transformation of urban and rural livelihoods under the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework, the ‘Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery’ blueprint and the NDS 2 devolution and decentralisation pillar.

He noted that other districts, including Mberengwa, Runde, Chirumanzu and Vungu, had also received motorbikes in line with Government’s pledge to leave no community behind.

“Accordingly, local authorities are expected to restore their credibility as primary drivers of essential service delivery by enforcing enhanced accountability, transparency, consistency, uniformity and efficiency in water supply, sanitation, roads, public lighting, corporate governance, public health, housing, community services, environmental management and grass cutting in all areas, including cemeteries,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the provision of the 17 motorbikes and skip bin truck should directly translate into better service delivery, improved community engagement and broader empowerment.

He said that since 2017, the Second Republic had championed a devolution and decentralisation agenda that supports effective revenue collection and the provision of quality, accessible and affordable services to all residents, including vendors, investors, youths, women, the church community and persons with disabilities, as mandated in Section 22 of the Constitution.

“I, therefore, urge all residents, the private sector, as well as other stakeholders, to continue complying with payment of council rates to ensure improved service delivery,” he said.
Minister Ncube also praised local authorities for driving local economic recovery and contributing to the Second Republic’s innovation, modernisation and industrialisation agenda through ongoing investments

in mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and manufacturing.
“However, I implore local authorities to appropriately levy residents and utilise the revenue guided by relevant statutes and best practices that enhance people’s livelihoods,” he said.

He added that achieving Vision 2030 was both attainable and a national priority, and urged community groups, including councillors, youths, women, war veterans, students and churches, to support the Bill as it enters public consultation.

Kwekwe City Council Mayor, Councillor Albert Zinhanga, said the skip bin would provide proper waste disposal facilities for residents and help reduce littering and environmental pollution.

Councillors also expressed optimism about the positive impact the motorcycles would have on council operations.

“There will be improved credibility and productivity as we will be able to attend more meetings and engage with residents,” said Clr Solomon Matsa.

A local resident, Ms Sofia Nyathi, welcomed the handover, saying it had already encouraged communities to unite around clean-up initiatives.

“We commend such efforts aimed at improving service delivery by the local authority. The coming in of the motorcycles and the bins is a win-win situation, with the community benefiting from improved services and a cleaner environment,” she said.