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Blessings Chidakwa and Marytise Vambayi
Harare residents yesterday applauded the signing of performance contracts by Harare City Council’s heads of departments, saying it will increase accountability and transparency.
Ratepayer organisations said they also wanted to see declarations of personal wealth and the contract being enforced with significant underperformers dismissed.
The top bosses signed performance contracts last week at an event witnessed by the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province Mr Tafadzwa Muguti, the top civil servant from the central Government assigned to the province.
Combined Harare Residents Association programmes manager Mr Rueben Akili said this was a step in the right direction.
“The signing of performance based contracts is commendable as this improves accountability and responsibility within our local authority.
“However, what is important is to understand how enforceable these contracts are. The signing should not be a ritual, but there must be enforceable sanctions and penalties for those who fail to reach the set targets,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts chairman Mr Shalvar Chikomba said this was a noble idea from the Government which should be applauded.
“Checks and balances are needed if we are to achieve total service delivery. Council officials have been sleeping on duty and by this we hope they will realise that residents pay them to bring service to them.
“We also want declaration of their assets when they assume these public offices so that we curb corruption by these city fathers.”
Speaking during the signing of the performance contracts, Mr Muguti said it was pleasing to witness the cascading of the whole Government performance management system into the City.
Mr Muguti said the signing of the contracts by directors in the city was important as it served as a documented commitment to deliver services that satisfy the residents and stakeholders in Harare.
“Performance contracting is one such measure that will promote accountability for results. Gone are the days when we used to develop blueprints, shelve them and forget about them. The Second Republic is about action and results.
“Participatory monitoring and evaluation is important in ensuring that the directors are accountable to the stakeholders. I urge the stakeholders here to help in monitoring performance,” he said.
Acting Harare Mayor Musarurwa Stewart Mutizwa said the ability to manage performance as council was critical to their success.
“It enables us to assess whether we are achieving what we set out to do and making life better for our citizens.
“It is important to note that performance measurement is the foundation on which all other elements of performance management are built,.
Mayor Mutizwa said performance contracts help to ensure that directors and the city were focused on their key priorities on service delivery. Harare City Council acting town clerk Mabhena Phakhamile Moyo said this was a paradigm shift from the traditional way of managing the affairs of the capital city.
“Our mandate as a local authority is very clear. We are expected to provide services and charge tariffs or taxes for that as stipulated in our Urban Councils Act.
“For us to be able to evaluate whether we are performing our mandate fully, we must have targets and be able to monitor and evaluate performance. The first step towards accountability for results is the signing of the contracts.”
Eng Moyo said rewarding good performance is a critical pillar that supports this noble initiative.
“We are going to measure the results, not to punish people, but to learn from our mistakes and improve on performance where we could not have done well and to foster desired performance where we are doing well.
“I am fully aware that issues of performance are not the characteristics of us and have never been part of our menu, but let me assure you that, this administration is ready to transform and embrace the new performance culture,” he said.
Online Reporter