One wonders why the City has failed to turn the corner in service delivery, utility development and revenue growth among other key activities. One wonders why there is such a wide gap between Residents aspirations reflected in the Citys Strategic Plan and the ensuing realities 10years after its development considering this was a comprehensive strategy developed with the involvement of all stakeholders - residents, civic society, business, academics and indeed the city fathers and their management. One wonders how or whether the urban councils act has had a positive impact on the operations of local government not only in Harare but the entire country? I personally believe Harare has potential to sell more than Zimbabwe. Harare is Zimbabwe, not only as an entry point to our beautiful country but as a strategic home of key administrative structures of Zimbabwe. Chiri kumbofira papi Stakeholders continue to ponder??? The answer lies on the need to revisit the urban councils act. This is a complicated process, a proposal of which many a politician in the ruling elite would not wish to embrace but reality will judge us harshly. The model of effective local authority management created by the urban councils act favours political agrandisement to the detriment of national interest. The City Of Harare case exposes deep rooted internal and stakeholder conflicting interests. These are: 1. The city management - these are politically inclined management appointments whose role is largely to ensure effective service delivery. One wonders why there is so much infighting and acrimony among department heads on simple management functions resulting in dirty turf wars that constrain the expected effectiveness of the system. 2. The Ministry of local government - through undue interference in strategic areas hence creating a polarised administration whose allegiances are plit, divided and unproductive. This weakens the ability of city fathers to reign in on stubborn non-perfoming employees at every level. 3. Elected officials - whose role has remain highly political and weak in the face of the uncompromising urban councils act. Their role remain ceremonial and have all been relegated to bystanders in a process they are suppossed to be drivers and custodians of Up until we define local authority management as economic growth zones and strategic enablers to economic and social development aspirations of Zimbabwe, delivering on expected national objectives of Zim Asset and entire national economic and social agenda will remain a pipe dream. Successfull local authority management models in wekk developed countries respect the strength of institutions and processes not individuals. The city has been held hostage to these ego interests from self centred individuals whose main purpose is to serve narrow personal and sector interets to the expense of all well meaning Zimbabweans. CRY MY BELOVED ZIMBABWE!
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 07:42:17 +0000
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