Hwange Local Board is seeking private sector partnerships to rehabilitate Nengasha Stadium and construct a new school as part of efforts to improve service delivery in the mining town. The projects are part of priority areas identified under the Government’s Minimum Service Delivery Standards, which require all local authorities to upgrade infrastructure and services in line with national development targets.
The Hwange Local Board Chairman, Mr Peterson Ncube, said the partnerships were crucial to close infrastructure gaps and expand community facilities at a time when government support alone cannot cater for all development needs.
“We are actively looking for investors to help us complete modern facilities such as the flea market, rehabilitate Nengasha Stadium, and also support construction of a school for the community. Private partnerships are key in complementing government efforts to provide sustainable services,” Ncube said.
He explained that the local board, like all authorities in Zimbabwe, is implementing Minimum Service Delivery Standards introduced by the Government to ensure uniformity and accountability across sectors such as housing, roads, waste management, environmental health, and social services. “These minimum standards set measurable benchmarks, and every council is assessed quarterly against set targets,” he noted.
The Ministry of Local Government has provided a detailed reporting template which local authorities must use to submit monthly updates on service delivery indicators. “We are required to track and report on volumes of refuse collected, road works undertaken, housing allocations made, and progress in governance activities,” Ncube said.
To ease operational challenges, the Government through the Local Authorities Technical Support Unit (LAPSU) has availed graders, excavators, and refuse compactors on a concessional hire basis. Hwange Local Board expects to receive new compactors and graders soon to strengthen waste collection and road maintenance.
Ncube added that community participation is central to improving services, with new channels such as ward development committees and social media platforms being considered to keep residents informed of projects and obligations.
The adoption of the service delivery standards comes under the 2023 blueprint titled A Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery, which aligns with the broader Zimbabwe Vision 2030. Cabinet recently approved the Standards Framework, reinforcing government’s commitment to elevate communities’ quality of life.
“Residents must know their rights in service delivery, hold councils accountable, and only pay for services actually delivered,” Ncube said.
