adminThis was said by Zimbabwe Local Government Association financial administrator Mrs Lucy Furamera at the launch of a project on local governance at Nyamandlovu Farmers’ Hall in Umguza District of Matabeleland North province last Wednesday.
The launch was organised by the Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe (ARDCZ) who are the facilitators of the project called Peace and Good Governance.
The project is funded by the European Union to the tune of 450 000 euro and implemented by Africa Community Publishing and Development Trust and Silveira House who provide technical advice.
It will run for 24 months.
The project has since been launched in six RDCs in the same number of provinces namely, Murewa in Mashonaland East, Buhera in Manicaland, Mberengwa in Midlands, and Matobo in Matabeleland South, with Umguza being the fifth and Guruve in Mashonaland Central.
“Spearheading peace and governance issues affecting local authorities would thereby create expertise in dealing with discrepancies encountered in the day-to-day operations of council,” Mrs Furamera said.
She said she was confident that Umguza RDC would continue their impressive record in RDC governance, as they were the best in the country.
Mrs Furamera said the future of RDCs was in peace and good governance to ensure the implementation and development of programmes.
“The nucleus of the future of RDCs rests with peace and good governance to ensure the implementation and development of programmes in RDCs, because where there is no peace, there can be no development and there will be no jobs,” she said.
Mrs Furamera handed over a desktop computer, video camera, multi-purpose printer and a spiral binder to Umguza Rural District Council.
The five other RDCs received the same equipment.
The equipment would be used to capture project implementation stages and produce reports for the project.
Receiving the equipment, chairperson for Umguza Rural District Council, Mrs Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, said the capacity building projects would improve the already sound service delivery that her RDC was providing.
She said as the nation was gearing for elections this year, the gospel of peace that President Mugabe was preaching was complemented by such programmes.
“Since President Mugabe is preaching violence-free elections then we are obliged to be involved in such noble projects. We want to develop the district and training councillors is key, because we are on the ground.
“Villagers would feel that they are more involved in policy making as the project outlines.”
During his presentation, ARDCZ project manager Mr Fred Ndlovu said the project would establish communication channels with the grassroots and the policy makers at national level.
He said the objective of the project was to train community leaders to increase participation of communities and civil society in governance, peace building so as to promote equality, healing, cohesion and unity thereby promoting development.
Chief Deli of Nyamandlovu thanked the facilitators for involving the local leadership in projects.
He said the facilitators had left them with a challenge to impart the knowledge gained to others in their areas of jurisdiction.
Online Reporter