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Lawrence Chitumba Correspondent
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo has urged local authorities to take a lead in the envisaged devolution through the promotion of business and investment.

In a speech read on his behalf by the principal director his ministry, Mr Christopher Shumba, during a stakeholder consultative meeting in Bindura last Friday, Minister Moyo said it was critical that the role of councils was systematically transformed to respond to the new economic order.

“Traditionally, councils have focused more towards the provision of basic municipal services such as water and sewer reticulation, waste management, roads, among others and not necessarily the promotion of business and investment,” he said.

“In the envisaged devolution thrust underpinned by local economic development, it becomes critical that the role of council is systematically transformed to respond to the new economic order.

“It’s no longer the business of providing water and making sure that there is no overflowing sewage but you also need to make sure that you create an environment that allows the inhabitants of your local authority be it urban or rural to be able to produce as   well.”

Minister Moyo said this transformation should see provincial economies becoming the hub of the revitalisation of the national economy.

The meeting was aimed at bringing all stakeholders to articulate their views and contributions on what they want the province to mirror and how to grow its GDP within the framework of the National Devolution Agenda and the Vision 2030 of attaining an upper middle class economy as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.