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URBAN Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) secretary-general Mr Livison Mutekede has commended Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, for warning local authorities against prioritising political agendas over service delivery.
In his keynote address during the official opening of a three-day consultative workshop for the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) in Bulawayo, Minister Garwe stressed the importance of focusing on providing essential services to the public.
He urged councils to prioritise the needs of their communities and ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
The directive aims to enhance accountability and improve the quality of life for residents by ensuring that local authorities remain committed to their core responsibilities rather than engaging in political manoeuvres.
Mr Mutekede said according to their constitution, UCAZ is apolitical.
“Our UCAZ constitution is very clear, we are an apolitical organisation and it is exciting that the minister has just re-emphasised that. We also take note of his call to service delivery and concerns on land barons in our municipalities and want to assure the nation that days of land barons are coming to an end,” he said.
Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Association (Zura) communications officer, Mr Marvellous Khumalo said political grandstanding has over the years contributed to declining service delivery by local authorities.
“Our interest in local authorities is an improved, effective, efficient and quality service delivery.
Today’s call by Minister Garwe that he will work with all local authorities regardless of their political affiliation is a positive development that we support,” he said
“We have seen in the past local authorities working on a partisan basis, making it difficult for local Government Minister to work with these councils, thereby short-changing ratepayers.”
In his speech, Minister Garwe said UCAZ should recognise the critical role that its partners and stakeholders continue to play in ensuring that the Local Government sector achieves its goals and objectives.
“I wish to particularly recognise the efforts of Government ministries and agencies, development partners, non-governmental organisations and the business community for their unwavering support to the sector. Fundamentally, we pay particular attention to the critical services local authorities are mandated to deliver to citizens, chief among them are water and sanitation, waste management and public health,” he said.
Minister Garwe said while some progress has been made by some local authorities such as Bulawayo and Mutare, more needed to be done by others, especially Harare.
Government has since declared waste management in the city of Harare a state of disaster and as a corrective measure, it is now privatising waste management in the city.
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