Performsance Appraisal
Local authority officials who fail to deliver basic services to residents will face severe sanctions, including suspension, dismissal and travel restrictions, under a new Government crackdown aimed at restoring accountability and improving service delivery across Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the 2025 Local Authorities' Performance Evaluation Feedback Session in Harare on Wednesday, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon. Daniel Garwe, declared that the era of poor service delivery, financial mismanagement and administrative complacency was over.
"In terms of Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026, the Ministry will relentlessly, ruthlessly and brutally penalise non-compliant and non-performing officials," said Hon. Garwe.
The Minister said independent evaluations conducted by Best Practices (Pvt) Ltd had exposed glaring disparities in service delivery among the country's 92 local authorities, with some councils making progress while others remained trapped in cycles of inefficiency and poor resource management.
"Service delivery is the only metric that matters," he said. "While a few councils are showing positive trajectory, many are still lagging behind. That era has officially come to an end."
Hon. Garwe said Government was determined to ensure that all Zimbabweans receive quality municipal services as the country advances towards Vision 2030.
He said the recently gazetted StatutWhipory Instrument 170 of 2025 establishes mandatory Minimum Service Delivery Standards covering water and sanitation, roads, waste management, public lighting and other critical services.
Among the targets, urban councils are expected to achieve 90 percent piped water coverage and provide between 50 and 100 litres of clean water per person per day, while maintaining roads, refuse collection systems and public lighting infrastructure.
"These are no longer suggestions; they are the legal baselines upon which your councils will survive or fail," he said.
The Minister blamed deteriorating service delivery on excessive spending on salaries, workshops and administrative luxuries at the expense of infrastructure and essential public services.
To address the imbalance, Government has introduced a mandatory 70:30 expenditure framework through Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026. Under the regulations, at least 70 percent of council revenue must be directed towards capital projects and service delivery, while no more than 30 percent may be spent on salaries and administrative costs.
Councils that fail to comply risk sanctions ranging from written warnings and suspension of local and international travel for councillors and management to the downgrading of council status and recommendations for the dismissal of senior officials.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, said local authorities were central to Zimbabwe's development agenda and the attainment of Vision 2030.
"We want to reach the goal of Vision 2030 and local authorities are pivotal to the attainment of national development goals. The quality of service delivery determines the level of public trust that citizens place in Government institutions," he said.
Dr Rushwaya called for urgent reforms to rebuild public confidence in councils, saying rewards and sanctions must become integral components of local government performance management.
The evaluation results presented at the meeting identified Zvimba Rural District Council as the best-performing local authority in 2025, followed by Mutare City Council and Kwekwe City Council.
As he officially opened the feedback session, Hon. Garwe issued a final warning to councils.
"The honeymoon is over. The tools have been provided, the laws have been gazetted, and the results will now be laid bare for everyone to see."
The session brought together mayors, council chairpersons, chief executive officers and senior Government officials to assess local authority performance and chart a path towards improved governance and service delivery.
John Basera ZBC News Online Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe The Herald-Zimbabwe Chronicle Zimbabwe