SERVICE delivery is set to improve across the country after the government procured equipment worth over US$9 million for refuse collection and road maintenance.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works handed over the equipment to local authorities this Friday, boosting the country’s waste management and road maintenance capacity.

Commissioning 20 refuse collection trucks, which are part of a consignment comprising 40 refuse truck compactors, 40 tipper trucks and five yellow machines, procured under the first phase, Local Government and Public Works Minister Honourable Daniel Garwe reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing key challenges faced by local authorities.

“In 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a blueprint called ‘Call to Action, no Compromise to Service Delivery,’ meaning all local authorities must ensure proper sanitation, water provision and road maintenance. He then saw it fit to procure service delivery equipment to enhance efficiency and in the first phase, we have 85 service vehicles, including tipper trucks, compactors and yellow equipment.”

The event witnessed the launch of a technical support arm dubbed Local Authorities Support Unit (LATSU) in charge of the implementation of the minimum service delivery standards.

“We were challenged to establish a department called LATSU, which will be run under the public works department. This arm will also play an oversight role on the procured equipment. Local councils are going to hire the service delivery vehicles from the government under the technical support unit. The hiring charges are very low,” Honourable Garwe stated.

As part of a broader effort to improve service delivery and create clean and safe environments, the government continues to support local authorities through various means.