Source: Councils urged to put service delivery first – herald
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
Local authorities have been urged to prioritise service delivery over managerial perks, with Government reiterating that clean, safe and well‑managed environments remain a core responsibility of councils.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, made the call on Thursday while officiating at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Clean and Green Cities Awards ceremony held at Lake Harvest Sports Grounds in Kariba.
Now in its third year, the event brought together all 14 local authorities in the province to celebrate excellence in cleanliness, environmental management and sustainable urban practices. It was held under the theme: “Our Cities, Our Pride: Leading the Zero Waste and Green Revolution in Mashonaland West Province.”
In her address, Minister Chombo warned councils against prioritising managerial perks and extravagant spending at the expense of service delivery.
“As councils, you should not focus on purchasing vehicles for managers and other non‑essential luxuries, but rather prioritise service delivery. As we move towards attaining Vision 2030, as espoused by President Mnangagwa, it is imperative that service delivery remains our core focus,” she said.
She stressed that the Clean and Green Cities competition was not intended to expose failures but to help councils identify gaps and improve performance.
“This competition is not a fact‑finding mission designed by Central Government to catalogue your failures. It is a stepping stone and a motivational mechanism meant to help local authorities identify gaps in service delivery and how to bridge them,” said Minister Chombo.
The Minister reminded councils of their constitutional mandate, which includes ensuring clean environments, safe water provision and efficient sewer systems.
“The responsibility to keep our cities clean, ensure safe water and maintain sewer systems that do not become sources of disease rests squarely on local authorities. That is your day‑to‑day duty,” she said.
Minister Chombo added that the platform promotes peer learning, allowing councils to adopt best practices from top‑performing local authorities.
She also challenged councils to prioritise environmental management in their budgets, warning that failure to allocate resources undermines sustainability.
“A Local Environmental Action Plan without a budget is not a plan. I am directing all chief executive officers, town clerks and finance directors to ensure clear, ring‑fenced allocations for environmental programmes,” she said.
While acknowledging improvements in cleanliness, sanitation and environmental management across several councils, the Minister noted that significant gaps remain.
“These include waste management, drainage systems, sewer infrastructure and poorly maintained cemeteries,” she said.
Minister Chombo said the Clean and Green Cities initiative aligns with national development priorities contained in the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), particularly in promoting environmental sustainability and good governance.
She also commended national efforts spearheading the cleanliness agenda, including initiatives led by President Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa through the National Clean‑Up Campaign and the Zero Waste Movement.
Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe provincial chairperson, Alderman Misheck Nyarubero, said councils were strengthening partnerships to improve waste management systems.
“We are prioritising stakeholder engagement, including working with Geo Pomona, to enhance waste management systems,” he said.
Traditional leaders, including Chief Chundu and Chief Msampakaruma, urged communities to adopt sustainable environmental practices such as proper waste management and reduced deforestation.
“President Mnangagwa is calling on us to clean and green our environment. It is our responsibility as traditional leaders to guide our communities towards improved waste management and cleanliness, and to discourage unnecessary tree cutting,” said Chief Chundu.
Lead adjudicator Professor Beaven Utete said the awards assess how local authorities comply with environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices.
“We focus on key areas such as waste management systems, recycling initiatives and efforts to curb littering,” he said.
In the main categories, Mhondoro‑Ngezi Rural District Council emerged best in the rural district councils category, while Kariba Municipality scooped top honours among cities and municipalities. Chirundu Local Board was named best in the towns and local boards category.
Kariba Municipality also won several accolades, including Planning and Documentation Champion and Green Zone and Shelter Belt Champion awards.
Nyaminyami Rural District Council received the Environmental Governance Champion and Most Improved Local Authority awards, while Mhondoro‑Ngezi RDC was also recognised for excellence in the implementation of environmental programmes.
The Clean and Green Cities Awards continue to play a pivotal role in encouraging local authorities to adopt cleaner, greener and more sustainable practices in line with national environmental goals.
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