Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has launched a 12-month programme aimed at strengthening citizen participation and accountability in the local authorities of Bulawayo and Harare.
The Citizen Engagement for Responsive and Accountable Governance in Zimbabwe programme, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, seeks to improve public oversight of councils and ultimately strengthen service delivery.
TIZ Executive Director Tafadzwa Chikumbu said the initiative was prompted by governance irregularities highlighted in Auditor-General’s reports and low levels of public participation in local authority processes.
“We noted most of the irregularities that are coming out from Auditor-General’s reports, citizen apathy in terms of following up on the Auditor-General’s recommendations, participation in the budget process,” he said.
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He said poor accountability at local authority level had a direct impact on residents, particularly vulnerable communities.
“When those things happen, the implication is not just unaccountable governance in these institutions, but it is about poor public service delivery, and it is the poor and vulnerable groups in our society that do suffer from such consequences,” he said.
The programme will take a two-pronged approach, with TIZ working with local authorities to strengthen accountability while also equipping residents to monitor and question decisions made by councils.
Chikumbu said residents would be trained to identify potential corruption risks and raise concerns with council officials and councillors before problems escalated.
“They are able to identify the issues. They are able to even flag before the issues do happen, by way of identifying the corruption risks, risk areas that exist within the two local authorities,” he said.
The organisation will also engage councils to improve access to information, including information that residents need to assess council performance and monitor the use of public resources.
Chikumbu said councils should move towards proactively disclosing information rather than waiting for residents to request it.
“We want to also establish accountable local authorities. Local authorities that are able to volunteer information even before the residents do ask for that information,” he said.
The programme will include town hall meetings and other community engagements based on issues raised by residents.
TIZ also plans to use youth-led platforms and digital tools to broaden participation, including videos and infographics explaining complex governance issues such as council budgets and Auditor-General’s findings.
Chikumbu said young people would play a key role through social accountability platforms and the organisation’s School of Integrity alumni network.
“We need to use modern ways of engagement, including creative work where people can record videos, they can come up with infographics that summarise the budget process or the Auditor-General report findings and the action that needs to be taken,” he said.
The programme will also seek to encourage residents to question decisions made by local authorities and suggest alternatives where necessary.
“We want people that are able to question, ask difficult questions and also propose alternatives to the local authority, you know, for the good of the people of Bulawayo and, of course, the people of Harare who benefit from these public services,” Chikumbu said.
The initiative has received support from Bulawayo Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo, who said it could help improve accountability and residents’ understanding of the role of councillors.
Moyo said a recent workshop with TIZ had discussed service delivery, accountability and plans to introduce an accountability tracker in communities.
“I think it was a good workshop where they want to have an accountability tracker in our communities and at the end of the year they want also to have an Integrity Award,” she said.
She said the initiative could help councillors become more accountable while enabling residents to better understand the responsibilities of elected leaders.
“I’m sure it will improve service delivery in Bulawayo and also, as leaders, will be accountable,” Moyo said.
TIZ said it was encouraged by the initial response from residents in Bulawayo and hoped the level of participation would be sustained throughout the programme.
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