Local authorities converge for ideological induction
Officials from the country’s 92 local authorities, last week converged for a three-day basic orientation course under the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology seeking to map a way which ensures they meet all service delivery in line with Government objectives.
Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe, said the training seeks to capacitate local authorities on critical issues of national building, with a view to achieving an upper middle income society by 2030.
The Ministry oversees the operations of 92 local authorities which consist of 60 rural local authorities, and 32 urban local councils.
The Local Government and Public Works Ministry is mandated to monitor, supervise, and capacitate local authorities in Zimbabwe, and conducts routine custom-made training programmes for staff and policymakers in local authorities.
“The Ministry will be rolling-out a three phased Councillor Induction Program where-in Mayors, Chairpersons and Councilors would be equipped for their role as stewards of their respective Councils. It is critical to note that during this process, the Ministry notes the wide political dichotomy which exists amongst policymakers and staff as well as the narrow appreciation of basic but fundamental aspects of the nation’s history, identity and polity,” said Garwe.
“The Government saw the need to include a heritage-based initiation course into the training and induction process, to ensure Local Authorities, as a third tier of Government, better understand the national development agendas espoused in Vision 2030.”
He said this program seeks to address our political differences and brings us to uphold our nation as our common ground of unity in order to have meaningful dialogue and initiatives for a better Zimbabwe.
Garwe said the ministry believed that through the training and induction, councilors and council staff can better appreciate their critical role in national affairs and development.
Adding on, he said local authorities compliment the government in provision of social services, infrastructure development, safety and security, creating an enabling environment for business, and environmental stewardship.
He said local authorities are semi-autonomous in running council business, thus creating their own policies, leverage on endowments and grow their own economies. For these reasons, and many more, Local Authorities ought to be aligned to the central Government in policy, procedure and action.
“It is of paramount importance that I highlight that the Ministry realizes and takes a leaf from initiatives carried out in countries such as China, United States, Russia, Singapore and Japan; where patriotic education campaigns have been launched to promote love for the motherland and moral values,” said Garwe.
“Critical to note is that the Ministry is striving to assist Local Authorities that are struggling to fulfill their service delivery agenda. In this regard, the City of Harare has received a USD25 Million bail out from the Government for the procurement of water treatment chemicals.”
He said he will not hesitate to deal with errant policy makers and executives working against the Central Government thrust of good corporate governance as well with people who exhibit wayward behavior at the expense of serving the ratepayers. – New Ziana
