The President and Vice President of the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA) have been elected to the leadership of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa – Southern Africa Regional Office (ULGA-SARO).
Dr. Aaron Shamu, the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA) President has been elected as Vice President of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s Southern Africa Regional Office (UCLGA-SARO) at the recent caucus meeting of the regional local governance body held in Harare from 27 to 28 February 2026.
Vice President of ZILGA and President of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) who is the Mayor of Harare His Worship Clr Jacob Mafume was also elected to the Board of the Pan-African Council of UCLGA Africa. The election of the two Zimbabweans to the leadership of the continental local governance body strengthens Zimbabwe’s representation and is a recognition of Zimbabwe’s vibrant local government system.
ZILGA successfully hosted the UCLGA – SARO caucus meeting which brought together mayors, council chairpersons, local government association leaders, and senior government officials from across the Southern African region.
An opening ceremony befitting a vibrant regional local governance body kicked off the event with the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon Eng. Benjamin Kabikira, who gave the opening remarks representing the Minister Hon. Daniel Garwe.
Hon Eng Kabikira celebrated the gathering as a demonstration of regional confidence in Zimbabwe. He reiterated the government’s unwavering support for collaborating with regional and continental partners, advancing economic diplomacy and re-engagement, enhancing citizen participation, and implementing constitutional devolution.
“Let us strengthen our intergovernmental relations and ensure that decentralization is accompanied by adequate resources, capacity, and accountability frameworks”, said the Deputy Minister. He stressed that empowered local governments are central to the realization of Agenda 2063 and the SDGs, and critical to ensuring that “no one and no place is left behind.”
The host Mayor and Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe President, His Worship Councillor Jacob Mafume, extended a warm welcome to delegates, emphasizing Harare’s longstanding tradition of welcoming regional and international delegates. He underscored the importance of strengthening inter-city collaboration, sharing best practices, and fostering people-focused urban development. Mayor Mafume also celebrated Zimbabwe’s current trajectory of international engagement and re-engagement.
The ZILGA President, Dr. Aaron Shamu, called for stronger, unified local governance. He expressed Zimbabwe’s pride in hosting the caucus, depicting it as a vital platform for reflection, renewal, and strengthening national and regional institutional frameworks. He stressed the importance of Local Government Associations (LGAs) and how they work hand in hand with the central government.
“Local Government Associations complement central government efforts, rather than competing with them,” said Dr. Shamu, adding that achieving Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals required strong, well-resourced, and well-coordinated local governance systems. He called for deeper coherence among LGAs and stronger engagement with regional structures to amplify Africa’s unified local governance voice.
Delivering his keynote, the SARO President, Cllr Dr. Samuel Oe Amseb from Namibia, offered a candid reflection on the region’s challenges and opportunities. He highlighted issues around administrative gaps and communication, as well as financial constraints. Dr Amaseb emphasized the need to build a more cohesive regional bloc. He called for deliberate, united action to strengthen SARO’s voice and influence, urging the election of leaders who are committed to accountability, responsiveness, and regional empowerment.
“Now we are presented with an opportunity to reshape our region and UCLGA by nominating and electing leaders that will not be carried away by personal privileges but stand firm for the development and empowerment of SARO and that of UCLGA,” he said. He ended by emphasizing that local government remains the frontline of service delivery, innovation, digital transformation, climate resilience, and community empowerment.
The SARO caucus highlighted its importance as a regional platform for peer learning, policy alignment, and strengthened intergovernmental collaboration, enabling countries to build unified positions ahead of the UCLGA General Assembly while also promoting innovation and regional cooperation in local governance.
The caucus also set the tone for unity and shared purpose among members, underscoring a collective commitment to resilient and future-ready local governments. Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, ZILGA, and the City of Harare, affirmed its dedication to driving Africa’s local governance transformation.