HWANGE Local Board (HLB) chairman Councillor Nqobile Ocean Mabhena says there is a need for community members to extend their helping hand to the local authority to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate of service delivery.
Cllr Mabhena’s remarks came after the Nkoma brothers, Chidano and Lazarus repaired and painted lockers at Empumalanga clinic.
The Nkoma brothers are panel beaters residing in Empumalanga suburb.
“We are quite aware that there are numerous people who possess practical skills within our communities. These are more than welcome to render any form of service to Council out of goodwill, since they will be realising the challenges we are facing. By so doing they will also be playing a big role towards our growth as a local authority,” said Cllr Mabhena.
He said Council could only grow and improve on service delivery through effective and constructive support from members of community.
“As Council we sometimes encounter challenges with regards to issues to do with governance, accounting and financial management, yet we have experts in communities.
“We have various professionals in communities and these are the people we need to come forward during our budget consultation meetings, so that they will open up our minds and eyes,” said Cllr Mabhena.
He further said councillors should make use of the presence of technocrats in their wards to develop their areas.
“When councillors call for ward meetings we expect them to invite technocrats and practically skilled people from their areas so as to chat the way forward. “Practical skilled people derive their business from the community and can always work from the bottom of their hearts to serve their communities…,” said Cllr Mabhena.
Empumalanga sister-in-charge Sindiso Mhlanga said the refurbishment of lockers ‘Council should tap expertise from communities’ would go a long way towards ensuring proper upkeep of the health institution’s stationery.
The Nkoma brothers said the repairing of clinic lockers was part of their corporate social responsibility.
“We decided to repair the lockers out of sheer benevolence as we are quite aware that the clinic serves the community where we live and operate from. In future we are looking forward to Council also giving us jobs in our line of business as part of their efforts to grow local businesses,” said Lazarus.Hwange News Letter
