The Herald (Harare)
OPINION
July 5, 2006
Posted to the web July 5, 2006

By Fortious Nhambura
Harare

LOCAL authorities should utilise opportunities arising from the twinning of Zimbabwean towns and cities with those in China to enable them to improve service delivery.

This is one of the avenues that local governments can follow to improve service delivery using experiences from other cities and towns outside Zimbabwe.

The provision of services in both rural and urban areas has plummeted over the years owing to lack of resources, proper planning and manpower among other factors.

A delegation from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA) that toured Zimbabwe two months ago expressed willingness to partner with local government authorities in the country.

During their tour, the delegation visited Harare, Marondera Rural District Council, Marondera Municipality and Victoria Falls and surrounding farms and road maintenance projects where they explored areas of mutual co-operation.

Head of delegation Mr Wang Yunze said he was impressed with what he saw in the rural areas and had seen some areas for possible collaboration. Mr Wang said he would inform his government on the possible areas for cooperation and assistance.

Local authorities are important pillars of Government in the provision of infrastructure and basic services such as roads, water, sanitation and housing. Rural and urban councils continue to face many challenges including rising prices of materials and other inputs required in the provision of basic services.

Many of Zimbabwe's roads in the cities and towns are in a bad state owing to lack of resources, machinery and construction materials that are now expensive. Local authorities in Zimbabwe stand to gain from associating with the Chinese. With rural and urban local authorities accounting for nearly 50 percent of Zimbabwe's road network, closer co-operation with China, which has the technology and means to help develop the country's roads, is important.

China has a lot of knowledge and experience in road development and maintenance that can be tapped for the benefit of local authorities. Chinese companies were involved in the construction of some of the country's major highways such as the Gweru-Nhema-Chivi Highway and the dualisation of the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.

One of the major setbacks to road construction in Zimbabwe has been the lack of machinery. This has also been worsened by shortages of foreign currency to procure equipment for road repairs.

Through such partnerships (twinning of cities), local authorities can be in position to build and maintain roads.

According to a Zimbabwe infrastructure assessment report, Zimbabwe's rail and road sectors have a lot of potential to attract investment in the communications sector but this has not been fully realised because of lack of maintenance and investment.

The report noted that the country's road and rail network were in a bad state, a development attributed to the postponement of routine maintenance over the years.

An estimated US$36 million is required to normalise the rail track while urgent repairs would gobble up to US$10 million.

A recent survey revealed that most of the major roads leading out of the capital were in a bad shape requiring urgent attention.

This poor road network affects development around farms and resettlement areas. Another problem affecting most local councils in Zimbabwe is the lack of effective waste management methods. This has left the urban areas littered with rubbish because the authorities lack the capacity to deal with this problem.

This is despite the fact a greater percentage of the litter can be recycled into other useful products. Experts say an individual produces two kilogrammes of waste daily, of this over 80 percent can be recycled or is biodegradable.

Unfortunately developing countries, Zimbabwe included, lack the necessary technology to transform this waste into functional products. This not only reduces pollution but also aids the country in development. It is through co-operation with developed cities such as Beijing that large urban areas like Harare and Bulawayo can benefit from technologies in waste management.

Despite having a population of over 12 million people, Beijing has managed to control and recycle its waste products.

Speaking at the launch of the National Waste Management Strategy Draft in March this year, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema said he was worried that local authorities still lacked resources to effectively deal with waste management.

"Local authorities, no matter how much resources they have, cannot manage waste. Waste disposal sites are poorly planned and biodegradable and non degradable waste is dumped together and land filled. There is no proper sorting of waste which requires proper disposal methods," he said.

Developed countries like China can provide the impetus -- through resources and personnel training -- for proper waste management. This can also be done with sludge.

The chief executive officer of Marondera Rural District Council, Mr Tichafara Gundo, said China could help through the provision of plant and equipment to maintain roads, ambulances as well as for the manufacture of medicines.

The Chinese can also assist farmers in rural areas through the provision of irrigation equipment and farm implements.

Harare Commission chairperson Ms Sekesayi Makwavarara reiterated the need for cooperation and expressed her city's interest for a twinning arrangement with Beijing.

Harare and Beijing can cooperate in technology transfers, fertilizer manufacturing, mining, farming and in the informal sector.

Irrigation development has been lagging behind despite the presence of large inland water resources.

Zimbabwe should grab the opportunity to learn from Chinese experience in irrigation that has seen it manage to produce enough food for its 1,3 billion population.

Rural development agencies should tap from the Chinese experience in water and irrigation development if Zimbabwe is to realise most of its agricultural goals.

In addition, most local authorities are still battling to provide reliable clean water supply for their residents.

Local authorities can also explore possible areas of co-operation with their Chinese counterparts to enhance the provision of water in cities and towns.

With the number of professionals in the private sector engineering having shrunk from 450 to around 60, there is need for expertise from other countries like China.

Zimbabwe's towns and cities are also still short of social amenities like school libraries, reliable transport system, and sporting facilities. This can be reduced through twinning of cities so that Zimbabwe's local authorities would benefit from their Chinese counterparts.

If Zimbabwe is to improve service delivery in local government, there is need for cities and towns to co-operate with other cities in China, tapping on their vast knowledge, strategies, and resources.