adminNgoni Dapira Post Correspondent
LOCAL authorities have been called upon to be innovative in their 2016 budgets to meet the country’s housing backlog of 1.25 million units and ensure good service delivery.
The Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, said this recently during an economic development and strategic planning workshop for local authorities organised by the Urban Development Corporation held in Mutare.
“It is no secret that the economic downturn has negatively affected local authorities’ ability to effectively deliver on their mandate. Given that, local authorities are expected to be highly innovative in revenue generation and financial management,” said Cde Kasukuwere.
He also called on the local authorities to include Public and Private Partnership as a source of financing in their budgets.
Cde Kasukuwere said to curb the soaring housing backlog, his ministry was refocusing the Urban Development Corporation to work with local authorities in its core business and mandate of developing housing infrastructure, particularly for low and middle class projects.
On the other hand the ministry extended the submission deadline of the 2016 budgets by local authorities from November 5 to next week Friday.
The Local Governance Minister also continued to read the riot act on marauding councillors, land barons and local authorities top management calling them parasites who had no sympathy for the poor and national development.
Cde Kasukuwere declared war on corrupt elements in local authorities and said corruption derailed all Government efforts to realise targets set out under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
“We have marauding councillors who think that their needs exceed those of ratepayers, but I say that is unacceptable. Let us be sympathetic to the poor. “These people (ratepayers) look up to us as leaders, but if we abuse our authority, not only do we lose their trust, but we will also be destroying our nation in the process. We are declaring zero tolerance to all land barons. The Ministry will not hesitate to act on reported cases of corruption as this undermines development,” he said.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing permanent secretary, Engineer George Mlilo, said new salary levels should be in the 2016 budget guided by the ministry’s 70-30 percent ratio to prioritise financing service delivery, which should get the biggest chunk of 70 percent.
“Our budgets should have innovation responding to the current times and not mere figures. The ministry has been streamlined to improve efficiency in urban development so we want to see the restructuring boost development and some major changes on the ground,” said Eng Mlilo.
The workshop drew some mayors, councillors, town clerks and chief executive officers from all-over the country.
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