Public Office Is Not a Playground: Citizens Demand Leadership Reform

A growing number of Zimbabweans are calling for urgent legislative reforms to set minimum educational qualifications for councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs), as concerns mount over weak governance, poor service delivery and underperforming elected officials.

Currently, the requirements for one to hold public office in Zimbabwe are minimal—being a registered voter aged 18 or above. No formal education is required. However, many citizens now argue that this outdated legal standard is contributing to the erosion of leadership quality, especially at the local government level.

The issue took centre stage during a recent “This Morning on Asakhe” X-Spaces discussion hosted by the Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE), where governance expert Rejoice Ngwenya stressed the urgent need for reforms.

“Councillors are the closest point of contact between citizens and government. They need to understand the issues they are dealing with,” said Ngwenya.

While he acknowledged that academic certificates alone do not guarantee integrity or good leadership, Ngwenya insisted that basic literacy and formal training are essential in helping leaders make informed decisions, read complex budgetary documents, and engage in sound policy formulation.

“It is not just about performance. It’s about capacity. Councillors and MPs must be literate enough to analyse budgets, bylaws, and policies. These roles demand critical thinking and legislative competence,” he added.

Ngwenya warned of the rise of career politicians who are more skilled in “praise-singing than problem-solving” and said education empowers leaders to be confident, assertive, and solutions-orientated.

Demand for Professionalism in Public Office

Participants in the discussion agreed that the quality of leadership across urban and rural councils is deteriorating due to the presence of underqualified individuals who lack the basic skills to perform.

Champion John cited the Harare City Council as a clear example of technical incompetence.

“Many councillors do not even understand financial statements. They cannot adopt basic technology like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which are critical for service delivery,” he said.

John explained that service delivery challenges such as water shortages, poor waste management, and bad roads—often stem from a lack of leadership capacity, not just budget constraints.

“Service delivery doesn’t happen by accident. It requires planning, knowledge, and coordination. We need leaders who can be trained and who deliver results,” he said.

Brighton Kunaka, another contributor, called for a shift toward merit-based leadership, saying qualifications encourage a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement.

“Schools exist for a reason. We must promote leaders who value education, not just populism. This is about investing in the future,” Kunaka said.

Education as a Tool for Better Policy Engagement

Beke Mguni, a political analyst, pointed out that many MPs fail to engage meaningfully during policy debates in Parliament because they lack the educational foundation to fully grasp complex legislative issues.

“How can MPs debate national policy if they cannot read or interpret legislation? Minimum qualifications are necessary to ensure meaningful participation,” she said.

Mguni also stressed that Parliament should not be reduced to a symbolic gathering of elected officials who cannot represent the interests of the people due to limited understanding of governance frameworks.

“We pass laws in Parliament, yet many MPs do not understand their role as lawmakers. If they had the right education, they would better serve their communities,” she added.

A Call for Balanced Reform

While most contributors supported the idea of a minimum qualification—suggesting at least two A-Level passes or a professional certificate they also emphasised the importance of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and communication abilities.

Ngwenya concluded that beyond formal education, councillors and MPs should undergo structured training in policy, communication, and research as part of their public service induction.

“A good leader must know how to gather data, analyse it, and propose solutions. That is a skill that can be taught—and must be taught if we want results,” he said.

As public frustration over poor governance grows, the push for academic and professional standards in politics may gain momentum. However, translating this push into legislative change will require both political will and constitutional review.