City of Harare has decentralized its operations to districts in a move that is set to improve the ease of doing business as well as bringing services close to the people.
Addressing a press conference in Harare on Wednesday, Mayor of Harare, Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni said the decentralized offices will offer an assortment of services including water and sewer services, road maintenance, public lighting among others.
“The services to be offered at the local level include water and sewer services, road maintanance, public lighting, cleansing services, town planning, development control, building inspectorate services, health and licensing services, housing, education and social services, parks and cemeteries and revenue collection as well as enforcement of bylaws.
“This will make staff and residents at district level responsible and accountable for service delivery as each district office will be a one stop shop for all services thus bringing services close to the people, improve ease of doing business and reduce response times,” said Manyenyeni.
He added that the decision was arrived at following what he termed convergence of minds with Minister of Local Government, Saviour Kasukuwere.
According to Manyenyeni, each zone will be headed by a Chief Admin Officer and will have its own plant and equipment with powers to devise its own work programmes that align to the city’s vision.
This is a milestone development that enhances efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. Development in each district will be based on each district’s ability to marshal resources especially mobilizing residents to pay their bills,” said Manyenyeni adding that each district will retain 25% of its revenue collection which will go towards development initiatives.
Manyenyeni added that City of Harare has approved the setting up of the environmental management services division that will be responsible for the supervision of environmental issues in the city assuming a watchdog role and protecting the environment.
The eight operational zones will be Central Business District, Mbare and Sunningdale as zone one, Hatfield and Waterfalls as zone two with Highfield, Glen Norah and Hopley forming zone three. Budiriro, Glen View, Mufakose and Marimba are in zone four, Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa forms zone five with zone six made up of Marlbereign, Marlborough, Warren Park and Mt Pleasant. Zone seven has Borrowdale, Hatcliffe, Greendale and Highlands and lastly zone eight has Tafara, Mabvuku and Caledonia.
