Zimpapers Writers
Local authorities are struggling to meet basic service delivery standards, especially on water supply, road maintenance and refuse collection.
This came out at the feedback of the 2024 performance outcomes of local authorities in Harare yesterday.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said there was an urgent need for strategic transformation ahead of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) for 2026-2030.
“Today, we gather not just to review performance, but to recommit to the social contract between Government and citizens, a contract measured in clean water, functioning sanitation, and well-maintained roads,” he said.
“The 2024 performance outcomes reveal both progress and persistent gaps in our collective mandate to deliver dignity through services. As we reflect on the performance of our local authorities, it is crucial to recognise the policy landscape that will guide our next steps.
“The recent performance outcomes reveal significant challenges: none of our urban authorities exceeded their targets, and a concerning percentage of both urban and rural councils fell below expectations. This data serves as a wake-up call for us all.”
Minister Garwe rallied councils action, saying the “Call to Action” blueprint, which has birthed the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), needs to be followed by all.
These standards are essential for establishing a baseline for service delivery across all councils.
“They will serve as a guide for local authorities to elevate their performance and ensure that every citizen receives the quality services they deserve. It is imperative that we institutionalise these standards and hold ourselves accountable for meeting them,” said Minister Garwe.
The Urban State Land Management Policy represents Government’s bold commitment to revolutionise urban governance.
This comprehensive framework is designed to achieve sustainable urban development, while dramatically improving quality of life through efficient land resource management.
At its core, the policy envisions orderly, equitable and optimal use of urban land, a national asset that must benefit all Zimbabweans.
Said Minister Garwe: “It is our operational playbook for creating cities that work. When we implement it faithfully, we will see the direct impact in unlocking land for affordable housing.
“The success of Vision 2030 will be measured street by street, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, starting with how we manage every hectare of urban land under our stewardship.”
Minister Garwe said as the nation journeys towards Vision 2030, local authorities cannot deliver quality services alone, but through strategic partnerships with the private sector, communities and development institutions to bridge resource gaps and leverage expertise.
“Whether in water provision, waste management, or infrastructure development, collaborative models multiply our impact while ensuring sustainability.
“I challenge every council to establish at least one transformative partnership in 2025, because when we combine public oversight with private innovation, we accelerate progress for all citizens.
“Moreover, as we delve into performance contracting and results-based budgeting, we must align our policies with our aspirations. Our focus should be on creating a results-oriented culture in local governance, where every council is empowered to innovate and improve,” he said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Umzingwane Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mrs Sithembiso Sibanda said: “I concur with the Minister to privatise some services of local authorities in order to improve our service delivery.
“We have already started it as Umzingwane, we realised that we could not find some of the very important projects we planned for, and we realised it was better to engage into public private partnerships.
“There are schools that are being constructed as I speak now, the construction has already started through public-private-partnerships; this means it is very feasible and possible for us to engage partners.”
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart said it was important for councils to implement privatisation where they were not delivering.
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