Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Senior Zimpapers Writer
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday officially launched the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework and the Urban State Land Management Policy, setting the tone for improved livelihoods and unlocking better value from the land resource leading to enhanced accountability and efficiencies.
The policy blueprints were unveiled at the 4th edition of the “All Local Authorities Indaba” held under the theme: “Benchmaking service delivery towards attainment of Vision 2030”.
Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, several Government ministers and more than 3 000 councillors drawn from all 92 local authorities attended.
In his foreword on the Urban State Land Management Policy document, President Mnangagwa said the blueprint ushers in a new era in the administration and management of a critical national resource, urban state land.
He said the guiding document comes at an opportune time when the country is witnessing unprecedented urban growth, driven primarily by huge demand for land within and around cities, towns and other growing urban centres in the country.
“It, therefore, becomes imperative that, Government provides a framework that fosters the sustainable and equitable utilisation of this finite resource, one of the principal pillars underpinning the national development of the Second Republic,” wrote President Mnangagwa.
From experiences of the last two decades, he said the Government has realised the need to re-organise key aspects of land management to optimise planned land delivery, as well as support infrastructure development.
“Undeniably, previous models, while going a long way in addressing the historical imbalances of access to urban state land, marginally fell short in this regard and, inadvertently, gave birth to considerable urban sprawl evidenced by the upsurge of irregular and dysfunctional settlements, particularly in the major cities,” said President Mnangagwa.
“On the other hand, speculative tendencies and ‘land/space baronism’ have also played an adverse part in distorting land management in the country.
“I therefore, welcome the thrust by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to plug policy and administrative gaps that, had become apparent and ensure that, the right balance is achieved in respect of provision of sufficient urban state land for development.”
Addressing delegates, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Daniel Garwe said the ministry took heed of President Mnangagwa’s proclamations under the Local Authorities’ Service Delivery Blueprint running under the theme “Call to Action – No compromise to service delivery”, which has resulted in the launch of the two policies.
Minister Garwe said notable achievements have been attained, noting that Master plans for local authorities are 100 percent complete.
“The ministry has lifted moratorium on land sales now that we have the Urban Stateland Policy. The ministry has also introduced moratorium on change of reservations and use in order to bring sanity and ensure organised and planned land development for Vision 2030,” said the minister.
He applauded the local government staff and all stakeholders who contributed towards the realization of several achievements.
“The journey was not easy, as sacrifices had to be made to ensure that a wide consultative process was undertaken. I am glad to say that with these standards in operation, the ministry now looks to improve performance assessment of local authorities and stimulate service delivery,” he said.
“I am also pleased to advise you that we are now in the implementation phase for the Urban Stateland Management Policy and Minimum Service Delivery Policy in all the 92 Local Authorities.”
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Judith Ncube, said the launch of the documents marks a critical milestone in Zimbabwe’s ongoing drive toward achieving Vision 2030.
“Today’s launch is not just a ceremonial event. It is a bold statement of our collective commitment to parity, transparency, accountability, and equity in public service delivery,” she said.
Minister Ncube said the frameworks will play a pivotal role in aligning urban development and public service delivery with national development objectives.
“We remain steadfast in our passion for Vision 2030, which seeks to deliver an upper-middle-income economy for all Zimbabweans. This launch is not only timely but also significant as it aligns with key national and continental development agendas,” she told delegates.
She also noted that the introduction of Minimum Service Delivery Standards will help establish a uniform benchmark for public service performance, while also empowering citizens.
“They set the foundation for uniform measurement and citizen-focused public service delivery across all sectors, and they encourage citizens to know their rights and guide service providers to perform with integrity,” she said.
The All Local Authorities Indaba brought together stakeholders from across Zimbabwe’s municipalities to strengthen cooperation, share best practices, and collectively work toward the national vision of a prosperous and empowered society by 2030.
Launched by President Mnangagwa in 2023, the “A Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery” blue-print laid the first stage of interventions to modernise the operations of local authorities towards Vision 2030.
As part of the thrust, President Mnangagwa has directed all local authorities to develop clear, actionable roadmaps aligned with the country’s Vision 2030 agenda, which seeks to position Zimbabwe as an upper-middle-income economy by the end of the decade.
In response, the Government swiftly developed minimum service delivery standards to serve as a national benchmark and guide for all local authorities.
These standards are a critical tool for ensuring that every local authority delivers consistent, quality, timely, and cost-effective services to the communities they serve.
In tandem with these reforms, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has introduced a dedicated Inspectorate Department tasked with rigorously monitoring service delivery across all local authorities. This institutional innovation is directly aligned with President Mnangagwa’s vision of efficient and responsive local governance.
According to the blueprint, each local authority is expected to craft its own standard operating procedures and systems, tailored to its unique context but consistent with national legal and policy frameworks.
The rollout of minimum service delivery standards and establishment of a monitoring framework underscore the Second Republic’s commitment to transforming local governance into a performance-driven, citizen-centric model.
