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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge has started working on implementing recommendations made by a special committee tasked to look into issues of services delivery in the country’s fastest growing town, Mayor, Morgan Ncube has said.

In an interview on Wednesday Mayor Ncube said the special commission of inquiry had raised a number of issues which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency in line with the smart cities initiatives.

He said they had to look into issues of service delivery following concerns from multi stakeholders on both technical and social issues.

“We have had site of the findings and recommendations of the special commission of inquiry into our service delivery,” he said.

“As we seek to accelerate the town’s transformation and enhance a balance with regards to people centred service delivery it is important that we act on the recommendations as a matter of urgency.

“Town Clerk will present to full council his programme of implementation. Among other issues, we expect our town engineer to register with relevant authorities within 30 days as per the committee’s recommendations and local government board requirements.

“Let me make it clear that, though there are a number of issues raised which are crippling service delivery, we are not firing anyone. We will simply take corrective measures and realign operations in some instances.”

The Mayor said the inquiry into services delivery was meant to strengthen the local authority’s capacity in line with the town’s development and growing service delivery needs.

He said the implementation matrix will be packaged with short, mid and long term work plans.

The special nine-member committee made up of a cross section of stakeholders including lawyers, residents and engineers was chaired by Ward 5 councillor Granger Hungwe.

In its report, the committee gave recommendations in specific areas it was tasked to explore.

“Based on site observations and interviews with key personnel in service delivery, this report provides a detailed probing of issues in the following areas; sewer blockages, roads, bus terminus, vehicle pillage at the workshop, refuse collection, Zinara acquittals and water reticulation. These areas were thoroughly investigated with a view to establish the reasons for what was evidently unsatisfactory service delivery.

“Observations, interviews and discussions established that indeed service delivery falls short of the expected municipal standards as epitomized by perennially flowing sewages, incomplete and questionable road works, erratic water supplies and unfinished projects which includes the bus terminus and culverts.

“After critical discussions on observations and conclusions, the committee came up with possible remedial recommendations which range from recruitment, selection and placement of suitably qualified personnel, to procurement of key service delivery equipment and vehicles.”

“The recommendations are also premised on the need to adhere to standard operating procedures and general statutory requirements and the need for a well monitored implementation matrix,” notes the committee in a 14-page report.