This is despite the fact that economists have criticised the economic blue print, saying it is totally impractical because of the current economic and political environment.
Several councillors and mayors from different local authorities two weeks ago converged in the border town of Beitbridge for a strategic planning workshop, where they were ordered to re-align their operations and incorporate the policy.
Chombo confirmed the development saying “We have instructed all local authorities to come up with strategic plans that conform to ZIM-ASSET. For those that had their strategic plans already we have ordered them to realign these so that they are in tandem with ZIM-ASSET,” he added. “We have made it a point that local authorities should focus on service delivery such as the provision of water, roads and sewerage disposal,” said the minister
Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze said funding was the problem. Most local authorities have performed badly in terms of service delivery, largely due to interference in their operations by Chombo.
Most urban councils are dominated by the MDC-T and on several occasions the minister has threatened to fire all councils that defy his directives. Some of the local authorities are performing badly because of hefty salaries and allowances being paid to council officials.
Ideally local authorities should spend at least 70 percent of their total income towards service delivery while only 30 percent should go towards payment of salaries. Chombo recently decreed a salary ceiling for town clerks as it emerged that some were earning over $30,000 a month.
Post published in: Business