MRDC launches service charter

Lovemore Kadzura
LOCAL authorities must be open to all their stakeholders for scrutiny and criticism for the promotion of accountability and transparency in their operations which build public confidence in them, a local governance expert has said.

One of the barometers to measure how local authorities are willing to work with their stakeholder is by having a service charter which clearly spells out what they are expected to deliver and perform.

Local Governance Community Capacity Building and Development Trust national coordinator, Mr David Matumbike, said this during the official launch of Makoni Rural District Council Service Charter last week.

Mr Matumbike whose organisation has facilitated local authorities such as Kusile, Gwanda, Mutasa and Insiza to come up with service charters, said this would help to foster engagement between councils and its stakeholders such as residents, ratepayers, business community and other Government departments.

“This service charter is an agreement between Makoni Rural District Council and its stakeholders who participated in its crafting since every stakeholder was given a chance to contribute its content. The charter will help in improving relations by removing suspicions between council and ratepayers.

“In this service charter, it is clear what council is expected to do and what it has committed itself and also what its stakeholders are expected to do also. Suspicions and mistrusts will be a thing of the past if this charter will be adhered to.

“Once key stakeholders such as residents and other ratepayers have confidence in their council, it means they will pay their rates and this culminates in improved service delivery which in-turn benefits all the stakeholders. We have situations were council officials view residents associations as enemies, which is very wrong.

“In councils that have adopted service charters there is now marked improvements in revenue collection and service delivery,” Mr Matumbike.

Makoni Rural District Council chairman, Cde David Guy Mutasa said the adoption of the service charter was clear testimony that his multi-award winning council was committed to service delivery and had opened doors to its stakeholders for advice, scrutiny and criticism.

“This service charter means a commitment to service delivery and that we will be guided by that charter because it has set goals and dates. It is not a window dresser. We cannot take our esteemed stakeholders for granted. We have set benchmarks that we will review as we move on.

“In the past, as councils we were not giving our ratepayers a chance to air their grievances, with us listening. There was no space for dialogue. Common understanding is required for the smooth running of council operations.

“We also engaged the traditional leadership in crafting this charter, so everyone owns this document. It now means we now have the constitution, Rural District Councils Act, Zim-Asset and our service charter to adhere to when conducting our business,” he said.