By Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Zimbabwe’s recent rollout of performance awards for ministers was meant to signal a new era of accountability. Yet the absence of consequences for underperforming officials has raised a fundamental question: what is the value of measuring performance if it does not lead to action?
This concern does not stop at central government. It extends—perhaps more urgently—to local authorities, where service delivery failures are felt most directly by citizens. From refuse collection to water supply, the everyday realities faced by residents in cities like Harare and Chitungwiza highlight a deeper structural problem: weak enforcement of accountability across all levels of governance.
A Culture of Measurement Without Consequence
Performance contracts and awards, in principle, are progressive governance tools. They establish benchmarks, encourage competition, and create a framework for evaluating leadership. However, without penalties for failure, they risk becoming symbolic exercises.
In Zimbabwe’s case, ministers who underperform are neither publicly named nor removed. This creates a perception that performance systems are more about optics than reform. For citizens, it reinforces a long-standing frustration—leadership is evaluated, but rarely held accountable.
Councils: The Frontline of Failure
If central government shortcomings are concerning, the situation at council level is often worse. Local authorities operate closest to the people, yet many have struggled with chronic inefficiency, allegations of corruption, and poor service delivery.
Residents in Harare, for example, continue to endure erratic water supplies, uncollected waste, and deteriorating infrastructure. Chitungwiza faces similar challenges. These are not isolated cases but part of a broader national pattern.
Councils fall under central government oversight, reporting to relevant ministries. This makes them an extension of government itself—not independent actors. Their failures, therefore, reflect a breakdown in both local governance and central supervision.
The Legal Vacuum
A critical issue lies in the absence—or weak enforcement—of clear legal mechanisms to remove non-performing or corrupt councils. While there are provisions that allow for ministerial intervention, these are often inconsistently applied and can be politically contested.
This creates a dangerous gap:
Poor performance persists without consequence
Residents lack clear, accessible avenues for recourse
Central government oversight appears selective or ineffective
Without a robust legal framework that empowers citizens and enforces accountability, underperformance becomes normalized.
The Cost to Citizens
The real burden of this governance gap is carried by ordinary Zimbabweans. When councils fail:
Health risks rise due to poor sanitation
Economic activity slows due to unreliable infrastructure
Public trust in institutions erodes
Residents are left in a cycle of frustration—paying rates and taxes while receiving diminishing services, with little clarity on how to demand change.
Why Residents Feel Powerless
Part of the problem is informational. Many residents are unaware of:
Existing complaint and petition mechanisms
Their rights within local governance structures
How to legally challenge or recall ineffective leadership
This lack of civic awareness weakens collective action and allows inefficiency to persist unchecked.
The Way Forward: From Symbolism to Substance
For Zimbabwe to move from performance rhetoric to meaningful reform, several steps are essential:
1. Link Performance to Consequences
Performance evaluations must have clear outcomes. Underperforming ministers and council officials should face dismissal, reassignment, or other penalties. Transparency is key—results should be public.
2. Reform the Legal Framework
Zimbabwe needs stronger, clearer laws that:
Define performance standards for councils
Establish transparent removal procedures
Protect these processes from political interference
3. Strengthen Oversight Mechanisms
Central government must exercise consistent and impartial oversight of councils. This includes regular audits, public reporting, and timely intervention where necessary.
4. Empower Residents
Civic education campaigns are critical. Citizens must understand:
How councils operate
What rights they have
What legal steps can be taken against non-performing authorities
Resident associations and civil society groups can play a key role in this process.
5. Introduce Citizen-Driven Accountability Tools
Mechanisms such as recall provisions, service delivery scorecards, and participatory budgeting can give residents a direct voice in governance.
A Moment for Reflection
Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads. The introduction of performance awards suggests an awareness of the need for accountability. But without enforcement, such initiatives risk deepening public cynicism rather than restoring trust.
True reform requires more than recognition—it demands consequence. Until underperformance at both ministerial and council levels carries real penalties, the gap between governance and the governed will remain wide.
For residents of Harare, Chitungwiza, and beyond, the question is no longer whether performance is being measured. It is whether it matters.
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