MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-President Mnangagwa has urged City of Gweru to partner with the local higher learning institutions in the province to develop solutions to address challenges in the city.
He said the local authority should leverage on the competencies and innovation hubs at local institutions to enhance its service delivery.
The President said this in his acceptance speech after he was conferred with the freedom of the City by Gweru Council at the Civic Center last Friday.
“Gweru is home to the Midlands State University, Mkoba Teachers College and Gweru Polytechnic among other strategic national institutions. I urge you to leverage on the capabilities and competencies of these organizations as you implement the Smart City Concept and modernize the City.
“Developed countries were developed through science and technology taught at institutions of higher learning. We must therefore give the challenges which we face as local authorities to these institutions to develop solutions.
“Information Communication Technologies and other contemporary strategies must be effectively deployed to accelerate the modernization of the City,” said the President.
He said the young talented graduates at the universities hubs and industrial parks should be tasked to come up with solutions that enhance service provision.
Mnangagwa added that the local authority’s mantra of City of Progress should be translated into reality through scaling up delivery of portable water, sewer reticulation infrastructure, roads, ICTs, waste management and refuse collection, public lightning as well as other essential services.
He added that local authorities must “foster development, sound corporate governance systems, integrity, honesty and orderliness are essential traits for those holding public office in our local authorities and indeed across the political spectrum”.
The President however, confirmed that the local authorities across the country are facing similar challenges of service delivery and encouraged them to work towards finding local solutions.
Meanwhile, Gweru Mayor Councilor Hamutendi Kombayi bemoaned the late disbursement of ZINARA and Devolution funds to the local authority, saying it is affecting efficiency operations.
“Your excellence, we appreciate your efforts in the ERRP program. You are aware that residents used to pay money to local authorities so that we are able to fix the roads. The money is now paid directly to ZINARA of which funds are taking time to be disbursed causing delays in roads maintenance.
“During the 2nd Republic we have benefited from the devolution funds, however these funds do not come on time which affect our operations,” said the Mayor.
