Mnangagwa warns local authorities

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a warning to local authorities in Zimbabwe, stating that the government will not approve their budgets unless they demonstrate achievable service delivery goals. During an interactive meeting with officials from various local authorities in Harare, the President stressed that the Ministry of Local Government has been instructed to withhold budget approvals unless they align with service delivery targets and legal requirements.

Mnangagwa expressed his concern about poor service delivery, especially in cities like Harare and Bulawayo. He cited challenges such as water shortages, uncollected waste, inadequate urban planning, and unplanned settlements as contributing to the service delivery issues. The President emphasized the need to prioritize service delivery and mentioned that ratepayers have the right to demand accountability from officials who fail to deliver on their mandates.

He also acknowledged the delays in disbursement of devolution funds and called on local councils to develop revenue generation strategies. Citizen participation in council budget formulation processes was emphasized as an important aspect of local governance.

Local authorities in Zimbabwe have faced challenges in budget performance, with unrealistic targets and inflated figures being common issues. President Mnangagwa's warning aims to address these concerns and improve local service delivery.