Know Your Chief Servant

On this edition of the Matobo Community Magazine (MCM), we had a chat with the Matobo Rural District Council (RDC) Chief Executive Officer, a key figure in local governance in Matobo. Below are excerpts from the interview.

S.N: Stacy Nyathi, MCM Editor

E.S: Elvis Sibanda, MRDC C.E.O

SN: May you briefly introduce yourself.  

E.S: My name is Elvis Sibanda. I am the current Chief Executive Officer of the Matobo Rural District Council.

SN: How long have you been in office?

E.S: I boast over three decades working in local governance, from Umzwingwane Rural District Council as Administration and Human Resources Officer where I worked for 25 years, from 1989 till 2014. Thereafter I joined MRDC as CEO in 2014 to date. 

Educational qualifications & merits

1.     I hold a Master of Science Degree in Development Studies with National University of Science and Technology.

2.     Bachelor of Science Local Governance Studies Honors Degree- with Midlands State University

3.     National Diploma in Local Government Administration with Domboshava National Training Centre in Affiliation with University of Zimbabwe.

4.     Diploma in Labour Relations- with  Institute  of Personnel Management of Zimbabwe

5.     A holder of Bookkeeping and Accounts Certificate with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers- South Africa.

6.     A Core Founder and first Treasurer of Umzingwane Aids Network (a Non-Governmental Organization 1996)

7.     Former National Board member with Ministry of Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare responsible for the registration of NGOs in Zimbabwe

8.      Matabeleland South  Provincial board member with (ZPS) Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services

9.     National Executive Member of the Chief Executive Officers Forum  for  Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe

10.    The Provincial Chairperson of the Chief Executive Officers Forum of Matabeleland South Rural District Councils.

11.   Awarded the “VERSTILE LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR 2018” in Local Government Awards.

SN: May you briefly explain the functions of your office.

E.S: As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) my office is responsible for leading the development and execution of the Council’s long term strategy. My office’s role also entails being ultimately responsible for all day-to-day management decisions and for implementing the Council’s long and short term plans. As the Chief Executive Officer I am the direct link between the policy makers and management of the Council. My office also communicates on behalf of the Council to stakeholders. My office has the obligation to create an inspiring vision, establishes shared values, and gives direction and setting of strategic goals for council.

SN: May you share some of the major deliverables of the MRDC under your tenure.

E.S:  There are a number of projects that were implemented during the past five years. The following table gives an update of the status of projects,

Project	Location	Status
Fumugwe Clinic	Ward 18	Clinic constructed and commissioned
Nhlupho clinic	Ward 8	Supper structure roofed. Funded under devolution
Manyane clinic	Ward 13	Structure is at window level
Umlugulu clinic	Ward 25	The structure is at window level. Funded under devolution
Ndabankulu clinic	Ward 4	The project has been completed and awaiting official opening
Silozwi Clinic	Ward 17	The project has been completed and awaiting official opening
Mabisi pry school	Ward 8	The project is at foundation level
Maphisa solar streetlights	Ward 19	50 solar streetlights were installed. Project completed in Maphisa Township. Funded under devolution
Lubhangwe primary classroom block	Ward 1	Roofing and beam filling works have been done
Lubhangwe secondary  classroom block	Ward 1	Roofing and beam filling works have been done
Procured a  Massey Ferguson Tractor		Procured under devolution fund and commissioned by The Minister of State. Devolution and Provincial Affairs
MRDC office extension	MRDC	The project is at completion stage
Installation of ICT hardware and software		The project and training of staff was done. Funded under devolution
Resealed 2,057KM of roads In Maphisa Township Surfaced 1.2km of earth roads		Projected completed
Establishment of Maphisa East Township		Production of a layout plan is at an advanced stage of being finalised.

These are some of the major deliverables that were done during the past six years.

SN: What is your biggest goal as Matobo Rural District Council CEO?

E.S:  As the chief Executive officer I would want to see Maphisa Growth Point graduating from a Growth Point to a Town board. I think we have developed to acceptable levels of economic development.

SN: How best can residents help to achieve that goal?

E.S: The development of an area hinges on the involvement and participation of the residents of this area. The investment and payment of rates and levies by the resident is very strategic in the growth of the area

SN: If you had the power, what one government policy would you reverse?

E.S:  If I had the power I would immediately remove the management of resettlement area by the Ministry of Land Agriculture and resettlement. And give to Local Authorities. The ministry of Lands should acquire the Land and hand it over to council as a Planning authority.  In terms the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 20:12 as read with the Statutory instrument 175 of 199. Local Authorities are Planning Authorities.’ The constitution of Zimbabwe section 276 grants councils “the right   to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of the people within the area for which it has been established, and has all the powers to do so.  Therefore it is council’s obligation to plan and develop the resettlement areas as a taxing authority .The ministry of Lands is not a taxing authority and therefore focus on acquiring land  surrender it to council.

 SN: How do you involve or plan on involving residents in the decision making processes of our district?

E.S: The governance system of local authorities has its own prescribed structure of development that mandate councils to utilize in the decision making process. Council has to engage stakeholders through awareness meetings through the use of those structures so that residents and rate payers are exposed to their rights in local governance issues of council.

SN: If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of infrastructure, how would you evaluate whether the project was worth implementing?

E.S: They would have to submit a detailed business proposal. This has to be analyzed by looking at their objectives, goals, target market and financial statements .This is to ascertain their capacity to finance the project, the lead-time in the project proposal is of critical importance. The other factor is consider if the project will an impact to the community. All these factors contribute to the acceptance and rejection of the project proposal.

SN: Where are your favorite places to spend time in Matobo and why?

E.S:  My favourite place to spend time in Matobo is my home with the family. I believe that it’s imperative as father to have time with the family  since it is my  family that gives me love, strength  and motivation  even to my work.

SN: What advice would you give someone who just assumed your leadership position for the first time?

E.S: The advice that I would give to someone who has just assumed a leadership position in the office of a Chief Executive Officer is that everything rises and fall on leadership. One should take heed of the fact that leadership is an act of aligning people by translating vision and values of council into understandable and attainable goals, with the involvement and participation of the rate payers. Hence one must be able to meet the needs of the hour in a local authority environment by making use of the governing statutes to run the local authority. Please click here to download