Term limits for municipal executives a masterstroke?

The 22nd Zanu-PF National People's Conference in Mutare has made a landmark decision to impose term limits for town and local authority executives, a move seen as a decisive effort to tackle entrenched corruption and administrative decay in Zimbabwe's municipalities.

For years, local authorities have suffered from rampant corruption, with long-serving executives exploiting their positions for personal gain. Reports of inflated tenders, land theft, misuse of public funds, and excessive perks-including luxury vehicles-highlighted the urgent need for structural reform. The absence of tenure boundaries created a culture of entitlement, enabling officials to manipulate systems and networks to remain unaccountable.

The new resolution aims to break this vicious cycle, introducing accountability and performance-based leadership. Term limits will ensure leadership renewal, foster innovation, and make executives more responsive to citizens' needs. By ending indefinite stays in office, the reform targets the corruption networks that have paralyzed service delivery and eroded public trust.

The resolution aligns Zimbabwe with countries like Botswana, Singapore, and Rwanda, where fixed-term policies have strengthened local governance, promoted transparency, and improved service delivery. Limiting tenure ensures rotation of competent and innovative professionals, weakens entrenched patronage systems, and ties executive renewal to performance.

Corruption in councils has had profound consequences for Zimbabwe's development. Cities once admired for efficiency now face potholed roads, uncollected garbage, dry taps, and failing infrastructure, directly affecting economic growth, investment, and citizens' quality of life. Cutting long-term corruption networks will free resources for development and service delivery, supporting the Government's Vision 2030 goals.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently underscored a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, strengthening institutions such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and initiating investigations into rogue councils. The establishment of a joint taskforce by the Ministry of Local Government and ZACC in September 2025 further reflects a coordinated effort to dismantle corruption networks and ensure accountability.

However, for the term limits resolution to be effective, it must go beyond symbolism. Legislative reform, robust monitoring, lifestyle audits, transparent recruitment, and public disclosure of council financials are essential to enforce accountability. Civic vigilance is equally critical; the fight against corruption requires active citizen participation and moral courage.

This resolution marks a turning point in the Second Republic's reform agenda, signaling a commitment to clean, efficient, and development-oriented local governance. By ensuring that power has an expiry date and that officials are held accountable, Zimbabwe can begin to rebuild its cities, restore public trust, and unleash the potential for sustainable economic growth-city by city, council by council.