SIX local authorities across the country failed to implement the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system before the June 30 deadline, with the failure of some municipalities to meet the deadline for implementing the system being indicative of broader dysfuctionality within local governance, a Cabinet minister has said.
Harare City Council submitted a defective ERP system, according to the minister.
In November last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a call-to-action blueprint for all local authorities meant to improve service delivery.
However, out of the 92 local authorities in Zimbabwe, 86 have submitted their draft master plans, which will now undergo a 60-day public exhibition, during which stakeholders can review, comment and raise objections.
Local authorities that are yet to submit their master plans are Beitbridge Municipality, Epworth Local Board, Ruwa Local Board, Mutare Rural District Council, Chitungwiza Municipality and Hwange Local Board.
However, addressing journalists in Harare recently, Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe said his ministry had deployed a team to interrogate matters concerning non-compliant local authorities on a case-by-case basis.
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“We have deployed teams to interrogate the reasons why they failed. Is it just delinquency or there are other compelling reasons that we may want to assist them in ensuring that they move in line with the demands of the blueprint?” he asked rhetorically.
Garwe said without these systems, local authorities were unable to effectively carry out their duties in the modern, technology-driven world.
“If you don’t have one, you can’t perform your duties in this world of technology using manual ways of doing business. We are beyond that now.
“As government, we are responsible, the minister of Local Government rather, we are responsible for the actions taken by the local authorities, positive actions and negative actions,” he said.
“The implications are that local authorities remain dysfunctional in the respective areas where they failed to meet the deadline.
“One key issue is the enterprise resource planning. I think for those that may not be in the know, enterprise resource planning are systems that are used by councils to manage their affairs and these are technological systems.”
Garwe lambasted Harare for submitting a defective ERP system when it is a very strategic and critical city.
“It needs to be run on a professional basis and they failed to do that. Harare’s ERP system is currently offline, while Mazowe’s is outdated and in need of an upgrade,” he said.