By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
KARIBA – The government has launched a sweeping “service-first” initiative compelling local authorities to refocus budget spending on urgent community needs rather than public events, training conferences, and overseas travel.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has issued a directive instructing all councils to suspend workshops, seminars, symposiums, conferences, and “look-and-learn” visits unless prior written approval is obtained from the ministry.
The move follows persistent complaints from residents across several districts over deteriorating service delivery, including erratic water supplies, overflowing refuse dumps, deteriorating roads, and chronic failures in basic infrastructure maintenance. According to government officials, excessive spending on engagements that yield little visible impact on the ground has exacerbated these problems.
Minister Garwe said the directive is anchored on a simple principle: public resources must be channelled into measurable improvements in municipal services.
“Future approvals will only be considered where proposed programmes demonstrate a direct contribution to the attainment of Minimum Service Delivery Standards, and where there are clearly measurable benefits to local authority operations,” Garwe said.
Officials clarified that the suspension is not intended to halt all learning or capacity-building activities, but to curb what they describe as an excessive reliance on workshops and external trips that produce no tangible results for communities.
The directive also tightens monitoring. Councils have been ordered to submit schedules of previously approved workshops, conferences, and travel programmes for ministry review.
Based on that review, the ministry will determine whether planned activities align with Minimum Service Delivery Standards and immediate priorities affecting residents.
Authorities have warned that repeat non-compliance will attract stricter consequences as the government moves to enforce greater accountability.
The announcement reflects what the government describes as a broader policy direction under the Second Republic, which prioritises citizen-centred governance and demands performance from public institutions.
“Local government exists to serve communities,” an official said. “Every dollar spent must contribute to improving living conditions, especially in areas where residents have endured long-standing shortages of essential services.”
In Kariba and other localities, residents have expressed frustration that delays in essential service delivery often coincide with visible spending on official engagements.
The new directive is expected to shift attention toward practical tasks: repairing critical infrastructure, improving waste management systems, strengthening maintenance schedules, and ensuring consistent delivery of basic services.
While councils will likely reassess their upcoming calendars, the government’s position is clear—public office is measured not by the number of events held, but by the improvements residents experience in their daily lives.
Authorities say that if effectively implemented, the “service-first” approach will strengthen accountability, improve utilisation of public funds, and accelerate efforts to rebuild public confidence in local governance.
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