Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba , [email protected]
THE modernisation and rehabilitation of key infrastructure such as roads is a top priority under the Second Republic as the country is focused on accelerating national economic recovery and growth in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube said this during his visit to the Gokwe Town Council to monitor the level of service delivery covering road network, waste management, housing, water and other social amenities.
Minister Ncube has conducted similar visits to Gweru, Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Zvishavane where he urged local authorities to improve service delivery to meet ideals of an upper middle-income economy target earlier than 2030.
“Our road infrastructure, in particular, needs urgent repairs and rehabilitation as it is filled with potholes, which is an unacceptable phenomenon in the New Dispensation under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Early this year President Mnangagwa launched the blueprint “A call to action — no compromise to service delivery” aimed at modernising the operations of local authorities towards Vision 2030 through the adoption of integrated and comprehensive strategies.
Minister Ncube said the Government was seized with and committed to the modernisation of infrastructure and industrialisation of the economy.
“Local authorities are urged to emulate Central Government’s development trajectory by attracting new investments through application of ease of doing business, urban renewal and smart-city concepts,” he said.
“Gokwe Town Council should lead by example as it enjoys clear comparative advantages of land, natural resources and human capital.”
Minister Ncube said the devolution budget for 2024 was significantly increased to ensure no one and no place is left behind in Zimbabwe’s development matrix.
He said the Gokwe council must fight the elephant in the room in the form of governance issues among them unethical conduct by both officials and councillors and partisan decision making that demoralises, demotivates and victimises workers in the process compromising service delivery.
“Victimisation of employees on political grounds is unacceptable and violates labour laws and principles of fairness and equality. I further implore all local authorities not to employ casual labour through councillors as patronage negatively affects service delivery,” said the minister.
In order to promote professionalism, he said all casual workers should be employed through the Department of Employment Services and Promotion, which is under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
“My office will not tolerate any form of abuse of office and those caught on the wrong side of the law will be made to account for their errant actions,” said Cde Ncube.
“Elected officials have been given the mandate to serve people, and it is vital that they do so with integrity and accountability. In this regard Gokwe Town Council should take these matters seriously and take action to address these issues as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Minister Ncube said critical service delivery challenges must be addressed by the council such as gravel roads with potholes coupled with poor network throughout the town, gullies threatening key infrastructure, and none functioning sewer system with most suburbs using Blair toilets.
“There are substandard and dilapidated residential and commercial buildings that require face lifting and rehabilitation, no landfill and, inconsistent refuse collection.
“Pursuant to the foregoing, Gweru Town Council should immediately address the issue of Blair toilets by rolling out a comprehensive sewer reticulation system in line with the smart cities concept,” he said.
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