CommuTalk Reporter
BULAWAYO: In a landmark show of commitment, duty bearers from various districts have pledged to work together towards achieving sustainable development and promoting transparency and accountability in all aspects of their work.
The pledge was made during a recent leadership training event in Bulawayo, where duty bearers from Mutoko and Binga districts gathered to discuss ways to enhance their collaboration with local communities.
The event, led by governance expert David Matumbike covered topics such as decentralization, devolution, service delivery, citizen engagement and the budget process.
Participants, drawn from government departments including the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises, expressed that the meeting was an eye-opener to the operations of the Partnership for Social Accountability (PSA) Project in their areas.
“This workshop was an eye-opener,” said Councillor Tendai Mahara, a duty bearer from Mutoko district. “It has helped me understand the importance of citizen engagement in public service delivery. We recognize the importance of working together to achieve our goals.
“I have learnt a lot on food security. These are real time aspects we should go back and implement in our respective districts. I will myself use district agricultural shows to promote farming of small grains while also taking time to talk to farmers about climate smart agriculture,” added Cllr Mahara.
By prioritizing transparency and accountability, the duty bearers aim to build trust with their communities and ensure that their development programs have a lasting impact. They committed to regular engagement with their communities, active listening to their needs and transparent decision-making processes.
Meanwhile, the government has introduced agro-ecological tailoring, which ensures that crops planted by farmers are suitable for their specific regions. In most drought-affected regions, this involves growing small grains such as sorghum, millet and sunflower.
The training aimed to equip local government and local authority officials with skills and knowledge on effective public service delivery within the framework of devolved governance systems.
The event was hailed as a success, with participants leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear understanding of their roles in driving development and promoting accountability.
