Harare, (New Ziana) – Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe has issued a stern warning to under-performing councils, revealing that most urban and rural local authorities fell below expectation in their 2024 performance outcomes.
In his address at the 2024 Local Authorities’ Performance Outcomes Feedback Workshop on Thursday, Minister Garwe described the latest data as a wake-up call for all tiers of local governance, warning that service delivery failures threaten national development goals.
The workshop brought together government officials, council leaders, and development partners to review the 2024 performance outcomes and chart a path for improved service delivery in the coming years. “None of our urban authorities exceeded their targets, and a concerning percentage of both urban and rural councils fell below expectations,” he said.
“The 2024 performance report is our mirror. We must have the courage to see both our progress and shortcomings clearly.” Garwe emphasised that the findings were not just statistics but a reflection of the lived realities of citizens, measured in access to clean water, proper sanitation, and well-maintained roads.
He said the transition from National Development Strategy 1 (2021–2025) to the forthcoming NDS2 (2026–2030) would be used to recalibrate the government’s approach to local governance, with a strong emphasis on equipping councils to meet growing service demands.
Central to this shift, he added, will be the institutionalization of the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), which set baseline expectations for all councils. “These standards are essential for ensuring that every citizen receives the quality services they deserve,” he said.
Garwe also pointed to the Urban State Land Management Policy as a key tool for transforming urban governance, unlocking land for affordable housing, and promoting sustainable development.
Calling for transformative partnerships with the private sector and communities, he challenged every council to establish at least one major collaboration in 2025 to address pressing issues such as water provision, waste management, and infrastructure development.
New Ziana
