A recent audit report has exposed the deep-seated rot in Zimbabwe’s local authorities, revealing widespread service delivery failures and critical infrastructure gaps. The acting Auditor General’s report highlights the shocking state of affairs in urban areas, where population growth has outpaced the development of essential services like water, sewerage, and waste management.

The report identifies 23 service delivery deficiencies, with many local authorities failing to upgrade infrastructure to match urban growth. Furthermore, a follow-up on previous audit reports showed that only 195 out of 639 outstanding issues were fully addressed, while a staggering 361 issues remained completely unaddressed. Nine local authorities even failed to submit financial statements for 2023 and 2024, creating significant accountability gaps.

Revenue collection issues have also worsened, with 92 findings in 60 authorities, largely due to outdated billing systems and incomplete databases. Most local authorities lack comprehensive asset registers, and assets are not revalued to reflect fair values. Procurement issues are rampant, with unsupported expenditure and undelivered goods, including essential items like ambulances and fire tenders.

The report paints a damning picture of Zimbabwe’s local authorities, exposing a culture of inefficiency, lack of accountability, and poor governance. The findings are a clear indictment of the systemic failures that have plagued these institutions for years. Decisive action is needed to address these issues and restore public trust in local authorities.

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