By Flata Kavinga
Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) has introduced performance contracts for heads of departments as part of efforts to improve service delivery, accountability and efficiency within the local authority.
Speaking during an interview, ZRDC chief executive officer Farayi Desimond Machaya said the move follows the Government’s introduction of Minimum Service Delivery Standards for local authorities under Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026.
Machaya said the framework was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and became effective in 2026 as a legal instrument guiding performance measurement in local authorities.
“As Zibagwe RDC, having signed performance contracts between heads of departments, chief executive officers and council chairpersons, we also took it upon ourselves to replicate the same process at council level,” said Machaya.
He said the contracts between the chief executive officer and ZRDC management were signed on 13 May 2026.
Machaya said the council would use performance scorecards to identify and reward best-performing heads of departments at the end of each year.
He said the local authority’s approach is in line with provisions of Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026, which provides for rewards for high-performing local authorities and penalties for poor performers.
“For Zibagwe RDC, we also want to follow suit and award best-performing heads of departments using the resultant scoreboards,” he said.
Machaya added that officials who fail to meet minimum performance standards could face disciplinary measures including written warnings, downgrading or other sanctions.
He said the council intends to expand the performance contracting system next year to include lower-level employees and committee chairpersons.
“We want all heads of departments to sign performance contracts with their immediate subordinates and we also want committee chairpersons to sign annual performance contracts with the council chairperson,” said Machaya.
He said the council expects the process to strengthen teamwork, transparency and accountability within the local authority.
Machaya said the signing of the contracts marked what he described as “a new beginning” for the council as it seeks to improve efficiency and service delivery for residents.
He added that the local authority aims to contribute towards the national vision of achieving an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society through improved governance and collaborative work.
