Muguti blasts Harare Councils over poor service delivery

Presidential Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, has criticised local authorities within Harare Metropolitan Province for failing to deliver adequate services and disregarding national development directives.

Speaking during a strategic meeting on Wednesday between Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Senator Charles Tawengwa, and officials from the City of Harare, Chitungwiza Municipality, Ruwa, and Epworth Local Boards, Eng Muguti said the province's performance fell far short of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's expectations.

"It is quite evident from how Minister Tawengwa challenged all local authorities that the province is not at the same level as what the President has directed local authorities to do," said Eng Muguti. "In fact, as the Office of the President and Cabinet, we have seen rural district councils performing better right now."

He warned that the Constitution empowers the central government to reclaim devolved powers from underperforming councils. "We are tired as the Office of the President and Cabinet, and we keep reiterating that the Constitution allows for Central Government to take back that devolved power if you do not use it well and if you underperform," he said.

Turning to urban order and sanitation, Eng Muguti declared that illegal vending, especially at night, must be eradicated in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, and Epworth. "The second agenda is we say no to night vending - it's illegal. During the night, we are also having illicit drugs and alcohol being sold under the shadow of night vending," he said. "The President has declared a state of emergency on drugs and substance abuse, so we need to know what people are selling, and it must be regularised."

Eng Muguti also warned against trading on road servitudes, saying such practices were causing severe environmental and infrastructural damage. "Some of the drains are being filled because we are allowing illegal trading on road servitudes. People sell drinks, maize, and other items, then dump waste into the drains," he said. "Some roads in Mbare are not even accessible because of litter encroaching into road servitudes."

Senator Tawengwa has since directed local authorities to incorporate designated market spaces for vendors, women, and youth entrepreneurs into their urban master plans. "I hope that in all our master plans, we are planning for vendors as well. They should be selling their wares in well-planned areas. The City of Harare must do likewise," he said.

The meeting underscored growing frustration from central government over the deteriorating state of service delivery in Harare Metropolitan Province, as authorities push for cleaner, better-managed urban environments aligned with national development goals.