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Councillor Hubert Fidze

Ruwende, Municipal Reporter
Zimbabwe’s urban local authorities have agreed to host an investment conference later this month to address serious budgetary constraints which have compromised service delivery.

The conference, dubbed the Local Government Investment Conference (LOGIC), is expected to attract 400 participants who include delegates from the 32 urban local authorities, representatives of industry and commerce, and regional and international investors.

LOGIC organising committee chairperson Councillor Hubert Fidze said installed infrastructure was failing to cope with an ever-increasing urban population.

“Most of our cities and towns are facing quite a number of challenges which you the members of the media have been highlighting for a long time.

As the city fathers we have been struggling to address these challenges with limited budgets,” said Councillor Fidze.

“Having realised our common challenges as urban local authorities, we have together decided to host an investment conference,” he said.

“Our major aim is to showcase investment opportunities available in urban Zimbabwe to local and international investors.

“Zimbabwe’s development trajectory is guided by Zim-Asset. Local authorities, through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, are resident in Social Services and Poverty Eradication and Infrastructure and Utility Clusters.”

He said due to the cross cutting nature of local authorities’ work, linkages to various other clusters also exist, adding that local authorities play a critical role in achieving targets set under Zim-Asset.

Clr Fidze said targets set for the delivery of housing could only be achieved through partnerships with investors and, by hosting the conference, local authorities were affirming their readiness to embrace investment.

“Deterioration of service delivered by local authorities in Zimbabwe is due to lack of financial resources which is what we want to address through the investment conference.

“We are mindful of the fact that we cannot achieve our goals on our own as urban local authorities without the participation of our corporate and social partners and all other stakeholders,” he said.

The conference is scheduled for October 17 to 21 this year.