A 30-month EU-funded project to strengthen the institution and operational capacity of local authorities to contribute to a more equitable, open and democratic society was launched on 28 April. Hon Dr Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has launched a project to support local governments in Zimbabwe.

The launch took place in Bulawayo during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZTF) and ran concurrently with the Local Government Merit Awards.

The project, worth 30 million euros over 30 months, is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG International - VNGi) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).
The project will:
• help support the realignment and reform of legislation and regulations in line with devolution provisions
• enhance the skills and knowledge of local authority staff and local authority associations, councillors, residents associations, ward and village committees, and
• engage citizens in local governance.

VNGi in conjunction with MDP will implement the project in the south-western region, focusing on local authorities’ capacity enhancement, while CLGF will work in the north-eastern region to help strengthen capacity for local governance and service delivery towards a more developmental local government. The project will also support the institutionalisation and strengthening of the Zimbabwe Local Government Association and civil society. Twenty-eight rural and urban local authorities who will be involved in the project took part in a consultation following approval for the implementation of the project by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in February 2015. However, all local authorities will benefit from the capacity-building resources and learning experiences that the projects will develop.

CLGF's Regional Programme Manager Nyasha Simbanegavi said, “This is an important new initiative which will help build local capacity and strengthen the links between local government and the community in line with the new constitutional provisions. Local government plays a key role in service delivery and is closest to communities making it very important to ensure good citizen engagement."

Other dignitaries who attended the  launch included the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, officials from the Ministry of Local Government, civil society, local government and local government association representatives.