A growing number of Zimbabweans are calling for a significant overhaul of the country’s leadership selection process. They believe that introducing minimum academic and professional qualifications for councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) could be the key to improving service delivery and governance.

Currently, the law only requires candidates to be registered voters aged 18 or above, with no formal education necessary. Critics argue that this has led to widespread mismanagement and ineffective leadership in both urban and rural councils.

Governance expert Rejoice Ngwenya believes that minimum qualifications would raise the standard of local leadership. “Councillors need to understand the issues they’re dealing with,” she said. “It’s not just about performance. It’s about ensuring councillors are literate enough to analyse budgets, bylaws, and policy documents.”

Ngwenya also emphasized the importance of soft skills, such as communication and emotional intelligence, in effective leadership. “A good leader must know how to relate to people,” she said.

Other contributors to the discussion echoed Ngwenya’s sentiments, arguing that underqualified councillors and MPs have hampered progress. They cited examples of councillors struggling to understand financial statements or adopt modern technology.

The proposal to introduce minimum qualifications has sparked a lively debate about the future of leadership in Zimbabwe. Will the country adopt a more merit-based approach to leadership, or will the status quo remain? One thing is certain: the demand for change is growing louder.

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