Council employees lack expertise, report reveals

via Council employees lack expertise, report reveals | The Herald July 22, 2014 by Innocent Ruwende

Council employees working on the Harare Water and Waste Rehabilitation Project under the US$144 million Chinese loan lack the required skills and experience to deliver on the project, a report has revealed.The report was prepared by a special committee appointed by council to investigate the implementation of the project.

“Since all the work is being carried out by the Chinese there is an opportunity for the project team to sharpen its competence and skills by capacity building mechanisms which include training.

“The investigation maintains that the project executive must consider the technical capacitation of the project team in commercial contracts management and execution bearing in mind the fact that there is a distinction between experience and expertise,” reads the report.

The special committee observed that apart from driving brand new top of the range vehicles the project team must be motivated to   deliver.

Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi shot down the suggestion saying the team comprised of senior employees who know their terms of reference.

He is the project executive.

The report noted that project director Eng Christopher Zvobgo was inadequately informed on several key aspects of the project.

“From interviews conducted it is evident that time, price and quality issues stand in the way of successful implementation of the project.  There is no demonstrable ownership and accountability for the project by the project team.

“This is attributed to the lack of project management skills and experience by some of the project team members.  Very few members in the project team have major project exposure. There is inadequate legal, commercial, contract management, logistics, procurement or project finance skills,” reads the report.

The probe team said the project was likely to suffer from lack of experience in project management.

It suggested that an independent part time consultant be appointed to give input “on a required basis”.

Council appointed the probe team that is chaired by councillor Stewart Mutizwa to look into the implementation of the project.