adminYeukai Karengezeka Municipal Correspondent
Preparations for the upcoming annual Local Government Investment Conference (LOGIC) and the 78th annual general meeting of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) are at an advanced stage, an official has said.
The conference will run from November 11 to 15 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo.
In an interview with The Herald, UCAZ president and Gweru Mayor Josiah Makombe said preparations for the meeting were underway and President Mnangagwa was expected to officiate at the event on November 14.
“We are happy to be hosting our fourth LOGIC conference where we are expecting the President to be the guest of honour,” he said.
“The team is working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in place and can safely say we are almost there.”
Clr Makombe said the conference was aimed at promoting opportunities and investments in local authorities for development.
“We will have two days of conferencing and a day of exhibiting, which will also be followed up by a workshop on procurement and the annual general meeting,” he said.
“The annual conference is a platform for dialogue between local authorities, Government ministries and other stakeholders to discuss pertinent matters affecting service delivery and sustainable development.”
Clr Makombe said the conference was aimed at getting more clarity on provisions of devolution and its implementation plan.
He said all local authorities were encountering financial issues due to eroded budgets and devolution funds.
“This conference is coming at a time when local authorities’ budgets were badly affected by the changes in the monetary system,” said Clr Makombe. “This has affected service delivery as local authorities can no longer afford to procure the goods and services that they had budgeted for.”
Online Reporter