Source: Parliament conducts oversight visit to strengthen local governance in Chipinge – herald
Daniel Chigunwe in Chipinge
The Parliament of Zimbabwe has reaffirmed its constitutional mandate to promote transparency, accountability and improved service delivery following an oversight visit by the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to Chipinge Town.
The committee, led by its chairperson, Dr Maxmore Njanji, who is Mazowe Central legislator, conducted the visit and public hearing to engage residents, council officials and other stakeholders on governance and service delivery matters affecting the town.
Dr Njanji said the exercise forms part of Parliament’s constitutional duty to ensure that local authorities operate in line with principles of good governance, transparency and responsiveness to the needs of communities.
“Section 119 of the Constitution vests Parliament with the authority to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance, while Section 141 requires Parliament and its committees to facilitate public involvement in their processes,” he said.
Dr Njanji noted that the committee’s presence in Chipinge was aimed at interacting directly with stakeholders and gaining a clearer understanding of issues affecting the local authority and residents.
He emphasised that the oversight visit was not meant to be adversarial, but rather to promote dialogue and cooperation between stakeholders in order to strengthen local governance structures and enhance service delivery.
“The ultimate objective of this oversight exercise is to strengthen local governance, improve service delivery and restore public confidence in local authorities,” he said.
During the engagement, members of the public were encouraged to freely present their views and proposals under parliamentary privilege, while written submissions were also invited to assist the committee in compiling its report.
The committee will deliberate on the views gathered from residents, community representatives and council officials before presenting its findings and recommendations to Parliament.
The oversight programme forms part of Parliament’s broader efforts to ensure local authorities remain accountable and responsive to the communities they serve while fostering constructive engagement between government institutions and citizens.
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