Online Reporter
Peter Matika [email protected]
RESIDENTS’ associations and civic society groups in Bulawayo are set to convene for a two-day annual residents’ summit, kicking off today, amid growing concerns over deteriorating service delivery by local authorities across the country.
The summit will run under the theme “Re-thinking and Reclaiming the Social Accountability Agenda for Improved Decentralised Service Delivery.”
The mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor David Coltart, and officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing are expected to attend the summit.
The indaba comes at a time when local authorities are facing mounting criticism for poor performance, despite Government interventions such as performance contracts for senior officials and the introduction of Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) under Statutory Instrument 170 of 2025.
Stakeholders say service delivery has continued to decline, with challenges including corruption, weak revenue inflows, lack of transparency and limited citizen participation in decision-making processes.
According to organisers, in a statement, the summit seeks to provide a platform for residents’ associations (RAs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and Government representatives to interrogate the MSDS framework and chart a way forward for improved municipal services.
“The summit aims to build consensus on service delivery priorities and strengthen social accountability mechanisms that empower residents to demand quality services,” read part of the brief.
The MSDS framework, introduced by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, sets benchmarks in key service delivery areas such as water supply, sanitation, waste management, roads, public lighting, housing and public health.
However, awareness of the standards remains low, limiting their effectiveness as a tool for accountability and improved performance.
Despite the establishment of an MSDS directorate to oversee compliance, local authorities were ranked among the worst-performing sectors in the Government’s 2025 performance contracts, largely due to weak enforcement mechanisms and the absence of clear sanctions for non-performance.
