Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, has directed that newly acquired government vehicles be deployed first to district offices, saying the move is aimed at strengthening frontline service delivery and enhancing supervision of development projects across Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the handover of the vehicle fleet and technical equipment, Minister Garwe said the ministry had for years faced mobility challenges that limited its ability to effectively supervise, coordinate, monitor and evaluate projects and policy implementation across its devolved structures.
“The ministry has for some time faced significant mobility challenges arising from an inadequate vehicle fleet. These concerns have affected our capacity to supervise, coordinate, monitor and evaluate projects and policy implementation across our devolved structures,” Garwe said.
He said the investment demonstrates Government’s commitment to building a capable, responsive and efficient public service, while expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion for funding the acquisition.
The minister also acknowledged the contribution of development partners and private sector stakeholders, whose support under the Local Authorities Technical Support Unit initiative saw the ministry receive computers, printers, plotters and other specialised equipment to improve the work of planners, engineers, architects and technical personnel.
Garwe said the new assets would strengthen planning, monitoring and evaluation while promoting evidence-based decision-making in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.
He instructed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. John Basera, to oversee the distribution of the vehicles, with priority being given to district offices, followed by provincial offices before allocations are made to head office.
“We are starting from district, we move up to provincial, then we end with head office. Every province and every district must benefit from this programme to ensure that no part of the country is left behind,” Garwe said.
Garwe said deploying the vehicles closer to communities would improve project implementation, strengthen oversight of infrastructure development and ensure government programmes are delivered efficiently throughout the country.
Permanent Secretary Dr. John Basera said the deployment of the vehicles marks a significant milestone in improving operational efficiency across the ministry.
“The availability of these vehicles will greatly enhance our ability to supervise projects on the ground and ensure that government programmes are implemented according to plan and within set timelines,” Dr. Basera said.
He added that improved mobility would enable technical teams to conduct regular inspections and provide timely support to local authorities, thereby improving accountability and service delivery.
“This investment empowers our teams to remain present where development is taking place. Regular monitoring will ensure that public resources are utilised efficiently and that projects deliver tangible benefits to our communities,” he said.
Dr. Basera also commended Government for prioritising the ministry’s operational needs.
“We are grateful for this support. It reflects Government’s confidence in the ministry and reinforces our commitment to delivering quality services, strengthening local governance and accelerating infrastructure development across Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Garwe urged officers entrusted with the vehicles to safeguard them as public assets, emphasising that they must be used responsibly, maintained diligently and deployed strictly for official government business to ensure value for money.