New minister cracks the whip ‘Laziness, insubordination will not be tolerated’

THERE is need to change people’s work culture and ethics and bury the “no hurry in Africa” attitude if the country is to achieve development targets set by President Mnangagwa in his 2030 vision.

Speaking during a meeting with heads of Government departments and other stakeholders on Monday in Mutare, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said it was time people changed their work culture and ethics to meet national expectations.

Dr Gwaradzimba vowed to work hard to change the fortunes of the province saying Manicaland should be an economic model.

“I think what is important is to really understand what we are here for, what we have been put in our offices to do and that we have a commitment to the national assignment and agenda,” she said.

“Laziness, sluggishness and insubordination is not my style. We are going to change culture and work ethics to bring the change that people have been yearning for over a long time.

“Talk of civil servants — they are associated with sluggishness, bossy attitudes and pomposity, uncaring behaviour and arrogance. People dread to come to our offices and they shy away. The kind of feeling that we have among our people is a feeling hopelessness. They have since lost hope in us and that is why the masses of Zimbabwe decided that we need to have change through Operation Restore Legacy.”

Dr Gwaradzimba said under the new dispensation people were full of hope and anxiety to see how the President and his team would deliver.

She said there was need to have equitable distribution of resources and shun corruption.

“We want people who are accountable,” she said.

Dr Gwaradzimba said people should be guided by the President’s vision of achieving a middle income economy by 2030 as they executed their duties in their various capacities.

She said she had embraced the idea of devolution adding that Manicaland was endowed with abundant resources.

Meanwhile, Chipinge Town Council is making concerted efforts to provide clean water to its residents in a move designed to curtail possible outbreaks of cholera resulting from water shortages,reports our Mutare correspondent Wimbainashe Zhakata

Chief internal auditor in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Mr Angel Nyoni said this recently in an interview with The Herald.

His remarks came on the heels of a tour to assess progress on the projects the town is running.

Internal auditors from his ministry were part of a team undertaking the monitoring and evaluation processes.

Mr Nyoni observed that the efforts being made by Chipinge to provide safe and clean water to its residents were commendable.

“In terms of its service delivery mandate, Chipinge Town Council’s efforts to provide clean water to the people were highly visible and evident in the tested and commissioned five megalitre sedimentation tank,” he said.

Mr Nyoni said the recent audit was part of the Ministry’s Performance Audit of the 100-day quick win projects.

“The ministry recognises local authorities as engines for development and service provision to the people and business communities in areas within their jurisdiction. The completion of the five-megalitre sedimentation tank is an indicator of the council’s commitment to provide clean water and reduce water-borne diseases,” he said.

Manicaland provincial administrator Mr Edgar Seenza has also expressed his appreciation for the efforts being made by Chipinge Town Council in providing water for the people despite limited resources.

Said Mr Seenza: “Given the limited resources, Chipinge Town Council is doing well in their projects. They completed installing one water point, which is now working and the other one is to be completed by the end of November.

“There, however, is need to purchase more pipes for the one that is about to be finished. The completed project in Usanga was worth more than $38 000.”

Mr Seenza urged Chipinge Town Council to try and complete projects such as the installation of water networks and servicing of Aerodrome’s 100 stands that they were doing within the targeted timelines.