Mnangagwa Calls for Accountability at All-Councill...

Mnangagwa Calls for Accountability at All-Councillors Indaba

Zim Now Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the 2025 All-Councillors Indaba in Bulawayo on Thursday, launching new Minimum Service Delivery Standards and the Urban State Land Management Policy while issuing a stern call for improved local governance and accountability across Zimbabwe’s 92 local authorities.

Addressing more than 2,500 councillors, mayors, and executives from across the country, President Mnangagwa emphasized the urgent need for local authorities to recalibrate their approach to service delivery, aligning efforts with the national vision of achieving upper middle-income status by 2030. The event, themed “Benchmarking Service Delivery Towards Attainment of Vision 2030,” highlighted the government’s push for evidence-based decision-making and measurable improvements in both urban and rural communities.

The President challenged local leaders to implement robust systems that deliver qualitative and quantitative changes, urging them to prioritize the interests of ratepayers and embrace a culture of high-impact results. “Local Authorities must be the solid base upon which we build our country and grow every sector of the economy; you thus cannot afford to be a poor foundation,” Mnangagwa said.

He expressed concern over ongoing reports of dereliction of duty and misconduct by some councils, calling the situation “untenable” and demanding greater commitment to public service. The newly launched Minimum Service Delivery Standards, developed by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, will be used to assess local authorities in eight key areas, including housing, water supply, sanitation, waste management, roads, governance, public health, and environmental stewardship. Performance awards will be introduced for councils meeting these benchmarks starting in the 2025 fiscal year.

Mnangagwa also stressed the importance of sound fiscal management, urging councils to align their budgets with national priorities and to mobilize additional funding for local development without overburdening ratepayers. He encouraged the adoption of innovative financing models and greater collaboration with the private sector, particularly through public-private partnerships.

The President endorsed the Ministry’s proposed Nhimbe Initiative, which draws on traditional communal resource-pooling to address infrastructure challenges such as road maintenance. He called on councils to embrace this approach to accelerate repairs and rehabilitation at the local level.

On environmental management, Mnangagwa warned against poor waste practices and illegal activities such as sand poaching, advocating for strict penalties and incentives for good stewardship. He urged councils to enhance community awareness and to participate actively in national clean-up campaigns.

Employee welfare and legal compliance were also highlighted, with the President instructing councils to prioritize the well-being of lower-grade staff and to ensure all statutory requirements are met. He called for ongoing review of by-laws to keep pace with national legislation and development priorities