Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
While fielding questions in Parliament regarding ratepayers paying for non-existent services, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Benjamin Kabikira said the ministry had established minimum service delivery standards for all local authorities across various service categories. 
Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has introduced an Inspectorate Department responsible for monitoring service provision in councils.
The Inspectorate Department is in line with President Mnangagwa’s blueprint titled, “A Call to Action No Compromise on Service Delivery: First Stage of Interventions to Modernise the Operations of Local Authorities Towards Vision 2030”, that was launched last year to guide local authorities towards improving service delivery in tandem with the national development aspirations.
According to the blueprint, President Mnangagwa directed that each local authority develops its unique operating procedures and systems to ensure compliance with the law and the achievement of minimum service delivery standards.
While fielding questions in Parliament regarding ratepayers paying for non-existent services, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Benjamin Kabikira said the ministry had established minimum service delivery standards for all local authorities across various service categories.
“In addition, the Government has also created an Inspectorate Department that will be responsible for monitoring service provision in local authorities. The performance of local authorities will now be measured using the minimum service delivery standards performance assessment system, with inspections conducted by the Inspectorate Department,” the deputy minister said recently.
According to the blueprint, inspection and systems audits by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works will be structured in such a manner that all local authorities are continuously reviewed to ensure compliance with the law, minimum service delivery levels, and respective standard operating procedures.
At the launch of the blueprint, President Mnangagwa emphasised that service delivery must be prioritised, adding that ratepayers have the right to demand accountability from those who fail to deliver. Several directives highlighted in the President’s blueprint include awarding the best-performing local authorities and council officials.
The blueprint also directs all local authorities to establish fully-fledged planning departments to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
The Government is taking planning issues seriously to curb the proliferation of haphazard structures, particularly in urban settlements.
Furthermore, President Mnangagwa has instructed that all local authorities develop master plans, implement functional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and maintain up-to-date valuation rolls. The blueprint also prohibits the construction of permanent structures, as well as the sale or transfer of land titles on servitudes, ensuring that the Government can reclaim land when necessary.
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