THE government has with effect from this month, introduced a results-based management strategy, which will see mayors, chairpersons of council committees and town clinics signing performance contracts.
Report by Sheryleen Masuku Own Correspondent
Bulawayo mayor Thaba Moyo confirmed the development yesterday, describing it as a positive move meant to improve service delivery at various local authorities.
He, however, said the Local Government ministry and the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe had not yet drawn up a performance contract template that would apply to local authorities.
“There should be a way to check how things are going in our councils and good performers should be rewarded,” he said. “Residents meet their councillors every month and the city council conducts stakeholders’ meetings.
“Residents will get a chance to say whatever they want in those meetings.
“Contributions will be taken into account during evaluations of mayors and town clerks’ performances.”
Moyo said the appraisals would work in such a way that each department will conduct performance appraisals for its staff members.
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“The mayor will conduct appraisal for the town clerk and, in turn, the town clerk will carry out performance appraisal for his staff,” he said.
“It is meant to stimulate competition among workers in the council.” Moyo highlighted the need for local authority employees to undergo training before the implementation of the performance contracts.
“We still have to go for training. If you must appraise somebody there should be training involved,” he said. In its latest report, the Bulawayo City Council states that Moyo attended a meeting in Harare last month between officials of the Local Government Urban and Rural Development ministry and representatives from all councils throughout the country where performance appraisals were discussed.
“The purpose of the meeting was to put across to the attendees that with effect from the first quarter of this year, performance contracts should be implemented without fail,” the report reads.
During the meeting a video illustration was presented showing how service delivery by local authorities had deteriorated in most cities and towns including Bulawayo, highlighting the need for the performance contracts.
