Govt tightens grip on councils expenditures

Vusumuzi Dube, Deputy Radar Editor

THE Government has imposed an immediate moratorium on all workshops, seminars, symposiums, conferences, foreign travel, look-and-learn visits and related activities by local authorities, citing growing concern that councils are prioritising such programmes at the expense of service delivery.

In a circular dated 27 May 2026, addressed to all mayors and council chairpersons, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the ministry had noted an increase in expenditure on workshops, conferences and travel while many local authorities continue to struggle to provide basic services.

“The Ministry has noted with concern the increasing number of workshops, foreign travel, look-and-learn visits, conferences and related activities being undertaken by Local Authorities at the expense of service delivery priorities,” reads part of the circular.

The directive places an embargo, with immediate effect, on all such activities involving any financial or time costs to local authorities until further notice.

“Accordingly, and with immediate effect, the Ministry hereby places an embargo on all workshops, seminars, symposiums, conferences, foreign travel and look and learn visits involving any time and financial costs to local authorities until further notice,” said Minister Garwe.

Under the new directive, no local authority will be allowed to participate in or facilitate any such activity without prior written approval from the ministry.

The minister said the restriction also applies to programmes initiated by Government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, associations, private entities and other institutions.

“Going forward, consideration for approval of such activities shall strictly be based on their direct contribution towards the attainment of the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) and improvement of service delivery in Local Authorities. Priority shall only be accorded to activities with clear and measurable benefits to core service delivery mandates,” he said.

The move comes as councils across the country face increasing scrutiny over service delivery, with Government recently introducing Minimum Service Delivery Standards requiring local authorities to prioritise expenditure on essential services ahead of salaries and administrative costs.

The directive is likely to place additional pressure on local authorities such as the Bulawayo City Council, which has recently come under the spotlight over its expenditure patterns and financial challenges.

Recent council reports revealed that salaries are consuming more than half of the local authority’s budget, with the salary-to-service delivery ratio standing at 52:48 against the Government-prescribed threshold of 30:70 under Statutory Instruments 170 of 2025 and 69 of 2026.

The city has also been grappling with mounting debt, ageing infrastructure and service delivery challenges, including fleet shortages that have affected road maintenance, water and sanitation operations.

Minister Garwe directed all local authorities to immediately submit schedules of workshops, seminars, conferences, foreign travel and related activities that had already received approval before the issuance of the circular.

He warned that authorities failing to comply with the directive would face disciplinary action. “The ministry wishes to advise that non-compliance with this directive will not be tolerated.

Appropriate administrative action shall be taken against any Local Authority or official found to be acting in contravention of this Circular,” said Minister Garwe.