By Chris Musekiwa
Councillors and senior management of the City of Kwekwe have concluded a three-day workshop in Bulawayo. The workshop, which was on Governance Reset: Roles, Meetings, Integrity, and Continuous Improvement held recently in Bulawayo. Sixteen councillors were in attendance as were two heads of department. The Chamber Secretary of the City of Kadoma, Mr Willard Mangwengwende and the Director for Midlands Province in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Charlton Murove facilitated the workshop. The workshop is part of the Good Governance in Local Authorities programme which GIZ is supporting technically and financially.
The workshop’s objectives covered, improved meeting practices, shared understanding of governance principles, strengthened team cohesion, develop practical meeting skills, reduced corruption risks, actionable tools and frameworks, culture of trust and transparency, clarify roles and responsibilities and commitment to continuous improvement.
The facilitators emphasised on the importance of cohesion between councillors and officials for the smooth running of the council. He said that it was important for councillors to understand the three tiers of government and how they relate to each other.
The facilitators also touched on role clarity emphasising on why this was important. He said role clarity ensures smooth service delivery, prevents conflict and duplication, promotes, accountability and transparency and strengthens public trust.
Facilitators brought up the roles of councillors as policymaking which includes setting strategic direction and priorities, oversight, which is monitoring the implementation of policies and use of resources, representation which is voicing community needs and concerns.
Facilitator highlighted Management roles. Management implemented and executed council policies and decisions, responsible for council operations which is managing the day-to-day service delivery, providing professional advice including technical and expert recommendations.
Arears of interaction of councillors and management were also presented which include council and committee meetings, briefings and reports, joint planning sessions, community engagement activities.
However, there were challenges to role clarity which include role overlap or confusion, poor communication, political interference in operations and lack of mutual respect.
Speaking after the workshop, the Acting Mayor, Cllr Janet Ticharunga who is the Deputy Mayor said that the workshop was effectively managed as it was interactive and brought to the fore the underlying challenges councillors and management were facing Kwekwe City Council. She hoped lack of role clarity was the source of conflict in Kwekwe. She also said that when conducting full council meetings, the chairperson should exercise authority and abide by rules of procedure which stipulate the number of times a councillor should speak. She said some councillors were not following the procedures.
The Acting Town Clerk Mr Edson Chiangwa said that he was happy with the interactive nature of the workshop and the issues that came up. He was confident that City of Kwekwe was going to implement everything that was learned for the improvement of service delivery.
The Acting Procurement Manager Mrs Grace Muchengeti said that the workshop came at the right time adding that there had had been lack of role clarity between councillors and management. She said the workshop was able to clarify roles. She hoped that councillors and management will now stay in their lanes.
“There have been instances whereby some councillors would try to interfere with procurement procedures. This created unnecessary conflict,” she said.
There was, however, concern from UCAZ and GIZ that the key decision makers, namely the Town Clerk, the Mayor, and the Director of Finance could not attend the workshop hence its effectiveness was likely to be minimal.