Collaboration: The Cornerstone of Effective Service Delivery
By Jabulile Siwela
Plumtree, much like many areas across the nation, grapples with significant challenges in service delivery. In response, Women Leaders Sounding Board (WLSB) recently hosted an interface meeting to address these pressing issues. Comprised of dynamic and courageous young women, the WLSB is steadfast in its mission to confront community challenges and drive transformative change within their constituencies.
The ongoing economic crisis has severely hindered the local authority’s ability to fulfill its service obligations. Among the critical concerns raised during this impactful meeting were irregular refuse collection, deteriorating road infrastructure, and inadequate water quality, which poses serious health risks. Perhaps the most startling revelation was that Plumtree, a town of 14,460 residents, relies on a single borehole for its water supply.
However, identifying challenges is only the beginning. The WLSB took their efforts a step further by proposing actionable solutions to these issues affecting over 14,000 residents of Zimbabwe’s border town. Young women emphasized the vital need for collaboration as a path to addressing these obstacles.
“Water availability remains one of our greatest challenges. It is directly tied to electricity supply and when power outages occur, our taps run dry because the council depends on electricity to pump water.
With only one borehole serving the entire town, residents are forced to endure long, winding queues,” explained Tahana Dube, a WLSB member.
The local authority’s financial constraints have hindered efforts to explore alternative power sources. Recognizing this, the WLSB urged the council to forge stronger partnerships with the community to identify sustainable, long-term solutions.
“We are aware of the financial limitations faced by the local authority. The only viable way forward is through collaboration. The council must actively engage with residents to establish enduring solutions to these pressing issues,” added Dube.
Collaboration has proven to be a powerful tool for mobilising resources, enabling communities to confront challenges head-on. The WLSB has amplified the call for partnership as the most practical approach to resolving the issues at hand. Collaboration has proven to be a powerful tool for mobilising resources, enabling communities to confront challenges head-on. The WLSB has amplified the call for partnership as the most practical approach to resolving the issues at hand. This call for collaboration has also extended to the health sector and women-led businesses, underscoring the importance of unity and shared responsibility in achieving progress.
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