Ministers push for transparent, accountable local ...

Ministers push for transparent, accountable local service delivery

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

Local authorities across Zimbabwe are being pressed to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in service delivery, as the government rolls out its Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) framework. This directive came from Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe during a recent sensitisation workshop in Harare.

Minister Garwe emphasized that "These standards are not only meant to guide councils but to empower citizens. Every local authority must develop its own systems to ensure compliance with the law and to measure how satisfied people are with their services. Uniformity and consistency are key.” He stressed the need for councils to "create cost structures for services and operate transparently" to foster accountability, aligning with the national vision to achieve upper middle-income status by 2030.

The workshop, attended by various government officials including Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera, marked a significant step in the implementation phase of the MSDS and State Land Management Policy frameworks, which were launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in June last year.

A key component of this digital transformation is the MSDS implementation dashboard. To facilitate data reporting and connectivity, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works received 250 Starlink internet kits from the Ministry of ICT. These kits are crucial for local authorities to access and upload real-time service delivery data onto the dashboard.

“These kits will go a long way in ensuring connectivity for our sub-national offices. This is how we track, monitor, and improve services in every district and province,” said Minister Garwe. Some of the first beneficiaries include Hwange Local Town Board, Tsholotsho, and Murewa local authorities, which will now be able to remotely access the dashboard, input service data, and monitor performance indicators efficiently.

“The Ministry will collect and process MSDS data through the online system. Each local authority will log in and submit their statistics and performance information. This allows us to visualise what’s working and what needs attention,” Garwe explained.

The online system will allow each local authority to log in and submit statistics and performance information, enabling the Ministry to visualize progress and identify areas needing attention. The framework focuses on "essential services like water provision, waste management, road maintenance, and housing with the goal of establishing national standards that guarantee residents in every corner of the country to expect the same quality of service."

Minister Garwe urged local authorities to align their work with the national development agenda, highlighting that the MSDS dashboard will serve as a central tool for evaluating the effectiveness of service delivery. “We are saying measure your performance, engage your community, and make sure no one is left behind. The Ministry will monitor everything through a digital dashboard, and performance awards will be given by the President,” he said.