Performance of Local Governments in Zimbabwe under The COVID 19 Pandemic: A Case of Mvurwi and Harare

The article sought to assess the performance of local authorities in Zimbabwe during the pandemic. Harare city Council and Mvurwi Town Councils are the two local authorities who are considered in the analysis. The article undertakes a wide scope review of literature in order to conceptualise the problem under study. The study was a qualitative study that made use of case study approach. A sample of 20 officials from the two local authorities under study were selected conveniently. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings show that the two local authorities are located one hundred kilometers from each other’s but they are facing similar challenges. Findings showed that both Mvurwi and Harare local authorities continued to provide services to rate payers. This was despite the challenges emanating from the pandemic. One of the main challenges faced was the decrease in revenue collected by the local authorities. The closure of businesses during the hard lockdown period contributed to this. Service delivery was negatively impacted by the fall in revenue as councils’ capacity to provide the same was seriously curtailed. Local authorities were unable to pay service providers. Falling revenue meant that the local authorities were unable to acquire these necessities and the implications for service delivery and performance were expectedly negative. Local authorities have actively participated in the fight against the pandemic. For instance, local authorities have established quarantine centres for all suspected Covid-19 cases. Safe to conclude that the COVID pandemic has grossly affected the service delivery aspect of local authorities in particular Harare City Council (HCC) and Mvurwi City Council (MCC) through depriving revenue collection and setting aside all resources generated by local authorities towards fighting the COVID and pandemic through the procurement of personal protective clothing, construction of isolation centres and procurement of vaccines. The local authorities are engulfed in a plethora of challenges which continuously deters progress. It is best that a political establishments view development with a shared vision. Further it was recommended that a more collaborative approach be adopted by local authorities and the central government in order to optimize service delivery. Local authorities should tap into various forums globally so as to identify best practices in service delivery implementation and emulate these. The pandemic has exposed cracks in the healthcare system at all level and local authorities ought to work to address these.