HWANGE Local Board (HLB) has completed revamping and realigning its Strategic Plan (2021-2025) in-line with the country’s National Development Strategy (NDS) I and Vision 2030.
The development comes as the local authority forges ahead to improve service delivery and good corporate governance.
HLB Town Secretary Ndumiso Mdlalose said the reviewing of the Strategic Plan was in accordance with Government’s expectations of improved service provision by local authorities towards attainment of NDS I and Vision 2030.
“Through reviewing our Strategic Plan, we (HLB) want to ensure that in all the processes and activities we carryout, we are in-line with the Government’s vision in terms of policy thrust,” he said.
Mdlalose further added that the crafting of the Strategic Plan was part of the local authority’s initiative aimed at improving good corporate governance.
“We are also looking at introducing a measurement of results through adoption of the IRBM (Integrated Result Based Management) system where we will be able to come up with instruments, which will allow us to assess and measure the level and quality, effectiveness and efficiency of our service delivery mandate,” he said.
Mdlalose also said it was of paramount importance for the local authority to enhance its accountability.
“We need to be accountable to the State because the resources that we use are State resources. We get inter-governmental fiscal transfers, Devolution Funds and we are allowed to tax in terms of the law.
“Therefore, we must put those resources to good use so as to provide the services needed to enable Government to deliver towards the vision for its citizens by 2030,” said Pastor Mdlalose.
HLB workers committee chairperson Themba Tshuma said the Strategic Plan should guide the local authority towards improving corporate governance.
“The Strategic Plan is meant to map the direction, which we should take as Council. Henceforth we should always be guided by it. Our plea is that it should have checks and balances, as well as monitoring mechanisms to enable it to serve its purpose,” said Tshuma.
HLB chairman Councillor Nqobile Ocean Mabhena said the involvement of representatives of the Council’s workers committee would go a long way towards embracing and appreciation of the Strategic Plan by employees.
“We brought in the employees, the workers committee members for them to appreciate and also to take ownership of this (Strategic Plan review) process. Many a times you hear workers saying the processes belong to management and councillors, but let me hasten to say that this doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s a collective responsibility to ensure our Council moves forward,” said Mabhena.
HLB vice-chairman Councillor Admire Munhenga added that the newly reviewed Strategic Plan would work as an impetus to encourage residents to timeously pay their rates.
“If the Strategic Plan is effectively implemented, it will be an easy task for me to entice residents to be up to date in terms of paying rates to the Council,” he said.
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works principal administrative officer Annah Takaendesa said the reviewing of the Strategic Plan by HLB heralds a change of fortunes by the local authority.
“Things are improving at the Hwange Local Board. As much as they can’t change overnight, but things are moving on the right track. As long as there is that pull him or her down syndrome things won’t improve, but only if there’s unity of purpose. There is just a need for harmony between the Councillors and Council management,” she said.
HLB is one of the few local authorities to realign its Strategic Plan in-line with NDS I and the country’s Vision 2030.
The Ministry adopted and introduced strategic planning to local authorities in the late 1990s. Local authorities are therefore expected to formulate and implement strategic plans. Source- Hwange Newsletter.
