THE Hwange Local Board Town is failing to complete several development projects outlined in previous strategic plans owing to financial challenges.
Most projects depended on intergovernmental fiscal allocations such as the Devolution Fund, which often fell short of the required amounts.
Hwange Local Board town secretary, Ndumiso Mdlalose, said the government has not been forthcoming with intergovernmental fiscal allocations.
“We have faced challenges in initiating several projects outlined in our strategic plan, primarily due to limited funding,” Mdlalose said.
“The funds received are often insufficient to either launch or complete these initiatives, making it difficult to achieve our intended goals.”
Mdlalose was speaking on the sidelines of the unveiling of the 2025 strategic plan.
According to Section 301(3) of the constitution, no less than 5% of national revenue raised in any given financial year must be allocated to provinces and local authorities.
Concerns have been raised over the failure of the government to meet the five percent constitutional threshold for the devolution fund since the introduction of the Inter-Governmental Funds Transfer in 2019.
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Between 2019 and 2023, the fund allocation ranged from only 0.5 percent to 2.9 percent, far below the required five percent.
Mdlalose said the council is banking on a combination of enhanced revenue collection strategies and private investment partnerships to break the cycle of stalled development.
“This year, we have explored several strategies to enhance our revenue collection, with the goal of financing some projects through our own resources,” he said.
“Additionally, we are considering partnerships with potential investors to support the implementation of key initiatives.”
Residents have in recent years grown frustrated with the slow pace of service delivery, particularly in water, sanitation and road maintenance
Mdlalose, however, said the council will this year prioritize targeted project implementation as part of efforts to restore residents’ confidence and rebuild trust in local governance.
He said the council had adopted fresh measures to ensure that all projects earmarked for this year are delivered as promised, in line with the Government's performance-based evaluation system for town secretaries and chairpersons.
“This means that whatever we commit to undertake annually must be delivered as promised.
“Failure to do so may reflect poorly on us and carry serious consequences,” Mdlalose said.
He stressed that the success of the plan would depend on collective effort across council’s departments.
“I want to emphasise that every department must play an active role in ensuring the successful implementation of our planned projects,” he said.
“Each contribution will be subject to close scrutiny to ensure accountability and results.”
