Govt reaffirms commitment to empowering local communities

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

 Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Reverend Paul Damasane (right) welcomes United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe, Mr Edward Kallon (left) during the Zimbabwe United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (ZUNSDCF) Joint Steering Committee meeting in Harare yesterday. — Charles Muchakagara

Trust Freddy

Herald Correspondent

EMPOWERING local communities is a major Government policy focusing on equipping individuals and authorities at the sub-district level with necessary skills and resources as espoused in the devolution and decentralisation policy.

This pledge was made by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, at the annual steering committee meeting for the 2022-2026 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework held in Harare yesterday.

The meeting was attended by several senior Government officials, including Public Health Advisor to the President, Dr Agnes Mahomva, Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, and Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Vimbai Nyemba.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Reverend Paul Damasane, Dr Rushwaya said Government remained committed to the responsibility of equipping the people and authorities at the sub-district level, with the necessary skills and resources to enable them to become active economic participants, and not just beneficiaries.

“It is encouraging to note that the UN Country Team in Zimbabwe shares this vision, and is taking active steps to implement it through the co-operation framework, emphasising the four strategic areas agreed upon.”

The four key areas include people-centred and equitable human development and well-being; environment protection, climatic resilience and natural resource management; economic transformation that is equitable and inclusion; and accountable, equitable and inclusive governance.

“Government has embraced the concept of devolution and decentralisation to creative economic hubs for development at sub-national level,” Dr Rushwaya said.

“This allows provinces to effectively use their resource endowments and comparative advantages. Both NDS1 and the co-operation framework have adopted devolution and decentralisation as a means to achieve our collective goals.”

He urged stakeholders to focus on outcomes and impact, rather than just tracking activities.

“Let me reiterate that as we advance towards the realisation of Vision 2030, our focus must shift from activities to outcomes. The real measure of success is not the number of projects initiated and completed, but the tangible improvements on the lives of Zimbabweans”.

Other notable figures from the development partners included UN resident and humanitarian coordinator to Zimbabwe Ambassador Edward Kallon, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident co-ordinator Dr Ayodele Odusola, and World Bank country manager for Zimbabwe Eneida Fernandes. As the country moves towards the end of 2026, which is the year that the current Cooperation Framework will end, Dr Rushwaya said focus should be on measuring the impact of interventions.

“As NDS2 is being formulated, Government will mainstream and strengthen the concept of the Whole of Government and Society Approach so that all stakeholders including the UN Country Team play a critical role in the formulation and implementation of this blueprint.”