Pledge to drive more community development projects

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw

GOVERNMENT has pledged to drive more community development through devolution and decentralisation projects across the country next year with the Treasury announcing an allocation of ZWG13,6 billion towards this cause.

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, in his 2025 national budget speech last Thursday emphasized Government commitment to the devolution agenda, which fulfills Section 301 (3) of the Constitution, which stipulates that not less than five percent of the national revenues raised in any financial year must be allocated to the Provinces and Local Authorities in a particular financial year.

His sentiments come amid calls by local authorities for the timely disbursement of devolution funds to ensure smooth operation of council businesses particularly implementation of capital projects.

Prof Ncube has reiterated the need to capacitate and promote the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to take charge of their own developmental agenda using their local endowments to build strong provincial economies as the cornerstone of the devolution and decentralisation policy.

He said sustaining this objective requires supportive laws, strong local institutions that ensure transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness in the management and use of public resources.

Prof Ncube said the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfer allocation is a critical component of empowering communities, providing resources to provide basic social services at the local level that create the right environment for productive economic activities.

“Despite the constrained fiscal space, a number of infrastructure projects have been completed, with some still ongoing, ranging from provision of educational services, health care, water and sanitation, as well as roads and other social amenities,” he said.

Commenting, Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe president, Councilor Similo Ndlovu, said councils were being crippled as a result of delays in disbursement of devolution funds.

“These funds are budgeted for because they involved big projects like road maintenance, clinics and schools. So, when they take long to come, all these projects are stalled, moreso with the recently completed masterplans as per President Mnangagwa’s instruction,” said Mr Ndlovu.

Under devolution projects, a number of local authorities have been reporting huge impact projects such as construction of clinics, schools and rehabilitation of roads and dams as well as purchasing of heavy-duty utility vehicles.

“In addition, delivery of firefighting equipment to the municipalities and local authorities has significantly improved efficiency and effectiveness in providing fire-fighting services by the lower tiers of Government,” said Prof Ncube.

“Government is also implementing strategies that bring investment opportunities at the provincial level to potential local and foreign investors, as well as the Zimbabwean diaspora through the development of

Provincial Economic Development Plans and Provincial Investment Compendiums that showcase bankable projects in the provinces.”

In order to support the effective use of resources, the Zimbabwe Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers Systems Administrative Manual was approved and capacity building programmes are being cascaded to all stakeholders, which will be complemented by strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems, to ensure that programmes and projects being implemented at the local level adhere to the principles and guidelines espoused in the manual.

Launching the manual in June this year, Prof Ncube said this is meant to guide local authorities to manage and process devolution funds in a transparent and accountable manner and is also part of the thematic areas of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

“Through the 2025 National Budget, resources amounting to ZWG13.6 billion have been set aside. It is, therefore, important that during project and programme implementation, the benefitting tiers of Government cautiously deploy resources towards interventions, which are fully-backed by detailed implementation and cash-flow plans to assist in resource allocation, disbursement and implementation thereof,” said Prof Ncube.

“This will enhance the effectiveness of the resources for economic growth and transformation in lower tiers of Government.”

He said initiatives aimed at leveraging the technical capacities of other arms of Government are also being pursued to improve project implementation capabilities. Such initiatives, he said, include strategic partnerships with key arms of Government such as the Zimbabwe National Army and Rural Infrastructure Development Agency for building construction utilising devolution funds.

“Under local governance, focus is on building the capacity for local authorities to plan and manage development activities, as well as to explore sustainable revenue generation opportunities,” said the minister. “Government also seeks to ensure that Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (IGFTs) are directed towards supporting the development of all provinces nationwide, with a focus on enhancing quality service delivery.”