Source: Minimum standards for service delivery set – herald
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
CABINET has approved minimum standards for local authorities that will guide them towards improving service delivery in tandem with the national development aspirations.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere while delivering the 12th post-Cabinet briefing in Harare yesterday.
“Cabinet considered and approved the Minimum Service Delivery Standards for Local Authorities Framework,” he said.
“The nation will recall that in 2023, His Excellency the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa officially launched the Blueprint on ‘A call to Action. No Compromise to Service Delivery: First stage of interventions to modernise the operations of local authorities towards Vision 2030’.
“Local authorities were directed to develop roadmaps towards the attainment of the Vision. On its part, the Government of Zimbabwe developed minimum service delivery standards to guide local authorities in the implementation of their roadmaps.”
Dr Muswere said the objectives for developing minimum service delivery standards include defining the minimum levels of services that local authorities should provide, and the nature of service recipients should expect in terms of quantity, quality, time and cost.
Other objectives are to determine the minimum cost for the provision of services, to provide uniformity and consistency in the provision of services at local level, and to provide a basis upon which feedback on the level of satisfaction against the standards will be evaluated.
Dr Muswere said the Minimum Service Delivery Standards Framework places focus on water supply, sanitation, solid waste management; roads and public lighting, corporate governance, public health, environmental issues and housing and community services.
“Each area has performance indicators, benchmarks and performance standards.
“The data will be submitted online, with a real-time dashboard system being implemented to track, monitor and evaluate progress.
“The performance of local authorities, both urban and rural, will be based on assessments set in the minimum service delivery standards framework,” he said.
Responding to questions from journalists, Dr Muswere said it is the responsibility of citizens to ensure that they get services commensurate with the money they are paying.
Residents could not, for example, be billed on services that would not have been delivered.
The unveiling of minimum service standards comes as the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has introduced an Inspectorate Department responsible for monitoring service provision in councils.
The department is in line with President Mnangagwa’s call to action in terms of local authority service delivery.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Dr Muswere said Cabinet considered and approved the Climate Change Management Bill, which seeks to guarantee environmental rights for present and future generations.
He said the Bill was presented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.“The Bill seeks to mainstream climate change across all sectors of the economy, prioritising adaptation and mitigation efforts.
“It will regulate greenhouse gas emissions, promote low-carbon development, and support carbon trading. It will establish a Designated National Authority for carbon trading, and a National Climate Fund to support climate change initiatives,” said Dr Muswere.
“By providing a comprehensive legal framework, the Bill will address gaps in existing climate-related statutes, ensuring a coordinated approach to climate change management across various sectors.”
COMMENTS