Group calls for partnerships

authorities as most of them struggle to deliver services.

In an interview recently, ARDC national chairman, Mr Albert Mbedzi, who is also chief executive officer for Beitbridge Rural District Council, said most RDCS were facing challenges.
“You will realise that most local authorities are facing capacity problems in terms of providing service delivery and we are saying the Government should come up with a programme to bail out some of these institutions.

“When local authorities are not performing, they reflect on the national outlook. Most of our roads are in a bad shape and some infrastructure and capital projects that promote development and economic empowerment for the community need additional funding from central Government.

“We are also saying that any development project that is going on in the country should be done in consultation with local authorities since they have master plans for their respective areas.
“At the turn of the new millennium most roads were damaged by incessant rains across the country and some buildings have been succumbing to wear and tear and these are some of the areas that we would need assistance.

“Zimbabwe has an agro based economy, which therefore calls for us to repair most of the damaged roads, which are not traversable.
“We need to revive our road network for the agrarian reform to be a success,” he said.
Mr Mbedzi said there should be a continuous consultation on the implementation of development programmes between central Government and local authorities.