Story by Theophilus Chuma
LOCAL authorities have been put on notice to implement targets set out in the recently launched service delivery blueprint.
The Local Authority Service Delivery Blueprint launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa early last month is a campus to address some of the bottlenecks that have shortchanged rate payers over the past two decades.
The central government is now coordinating the implementation of the blueprint after convening a meeting with mayors, town clerks and rural district council chief executive officers in Harare this Wednesday.
The government expects a positive impact within the short to medium term.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Winston Chitando said, “We are having meetings to ensure that everyone is fully aware of the blueprint, and it has implications on the budget in terms of preparations of the budget which have to be done by the end of December. We have created 10 teams that are reviewing the budgets. So, each team will check to ensure in detail that each local authority is consistent with the expectations of the blueprint.”
The roadmap set by the blueprint has jolted local authorities’ leadership to action, with expectations of improved service delivery going forward.
“It’s very important that central government set out a blueprint which is a national guide that is the basis for the country. We will work within that blueprint, and we welcome it,” Bulawayo Metropolitan Mayor, Councillor David Coltart said.
Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe president, Golden Shamu said, “We need to do everything compliant with the law so that everything supports the vision of the President. All local authorities should be whipped into line to the national cause to make sure every resident derives service from local authorities.”
To ensure the sustainability of this approach, the government has also tasked local authorities to develop master plans that feed into the vision to attain an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
