CITIZENS Coalition for Change self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu has flagged systematic governance failures in local authorities across Zimbabwe, urging the government to enforce financial accountability in the use of public funds.
For several years, local authorities have ranked among the worst-performing sectors in government performance contracts, weighed down by structural and operational challenges that continue to undermine service delivery nationwide.
Tshabangu urged the Senate to intervene and hold local authorities accountable to their constitutional mandate to ensure effective service delivery.
“This situation is exacerbated by a lack of oversight in effective local government structures, leading to maladministration,”
he said.
Tshabangu called on the Local Government and Public Works ministry to enforce financial discipline and existing laws to strengthen service delivery at the local
authority level.
He noted the perennial failure by local authorities to provide basic service delivery countrywide despite ratepayers continuing to pay for unavailable services.
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Tshabangu added that the deterioration in local authorities had created a gap between “policy intent and actual service delivery,” resulting in widening consequences for ratepayers.
“The situation on the ground remains deeply concerning. The gap between policy intent and actual service delivery is widening with devastating consequences for the public, human health and economic productivity,” Tshabangu said.
He cited major urban centres including Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Mutare, as struggling with prolonged water shortages.
“In Budiriro, Glen View, Kuwadzana and Cowdray Park, households go for weeks without water supply, forcing reliance on unsafe shallow wells and unprotected pools,” Tshabangu
said.
He also said ageing infrastructure and poor maintenance had resulted in sewage spillage in several cities.
“...raw sewage flows through residential streets in Harare, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Gweru and many other cities. This is an affront to human dignity and a public health time
bomb.”
