Role and Function of the Council

Principal Role of a Council

A council is, under the system of local government established by this Act, established to provide for
the government and management of its area at the local level and, in particular-

1. to act as a representative, informed and responsible decision –maker in the interests of its
community; and
2. to provide and co-ordinate various public services and facilities and to develop its
community and resources in a socially just and ecologically sustainable manner; and
3. to encourage and develop initiatives within its community for improving the quality of life of
the community; and
4. to represent the interests of its community to the wider community; and
5. to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, functions and duties of local government
6. under this and other Acts in relation to the area for which it is constituted.

Functions of a Council

The functions of a Council include:

1. to plan at the local and regional level for the development and future requirements of its
area;
2. to provide services and facilities that benefit its area, its ratepayers and residents, and
visitors to its area (including general public services or facilities (including electricity, gas and
water services, and waste collection, control or disposal services or facilities), health, welfare
or community services or facilities, and cultural or recreational services or facilities);
3. to provide for the welfare, well-being and interests of individuals and groups within its
community;
4. to take measures to protect its area from natural and other hazards and to mitigate the
effects of such hazards;
5. to manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment in an
ecologically sustainable manner, and to improve amenity;
6. to provide infrastructure for its community and for development within its area;
7. to promote its area and to provide an attractive climate and locations for the
8. development of business ,commerce, industry and tourism;
9. to establish or support organisations or programs that benefit people in its area or local
government generally;
10. to manage and, if appropriate, develop, public areas vested in, or occupied by, the council;
11. to manage, improve and develop resources available to the council;
12. to undertake other functions and activities conferred by or under an Act.

Objectives of a Council

A council must, in the performance of its roles and functions:

1. provide open, responsive and accountable government;

2. be responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within its
community;
3. participate with other councils, and with State and national governments, in setting public
policy and achieving regional, State and national objectives;
4. give due weight, in all its plans, policies and activities, to regional, State and national
objectives and strategies concerning the economic, social, physical and environmental
development and management of the community;
5. seek to co-ordinate with State and national government in the planning and delivery of
services in which those governments have an interest;
6. seek to facilitate sustainable development and the protection of the environment and to
ensure a proper balance within its community between economic, social, environmental and
cultural considerations;
7. manage its operations and affairs in a manner that emphasises the importance of service to
the community;
8. seek to ensure that council resources are used fairly, effectively and efficiently;
9. seek to provide services, facilities and programs that are adequate and appropriate and seek
to ensure equitable access to its services, facilities and programs.

Urban Councils Act

It is an act of parliament which was passed by Parliament and made to be a law with governs
the operations of local authorities or Urban Councils. It guides the operations of the Urban
Councils. In Zimbabwe we have got 32 Urban Councils which are formed the Councils,
Municipalities, Town Councils and Locsl Boards. Urban Councils Act play a role in regulating
the operations, establishment of Local Authotities in terms of their Status such as Towns,
Municipality, City Council or local board. The urban council act has got some sections that
provides for the establishment of such urban councils and the urban councils Act also spells
out the manor in which Local Authorities or Urban Councils must be run and it pertains to
the recruitment of staff, planning, assests management, audit of Accounts, provision of
services and the Act also spells the mandate of the local Authorities or Urban Councils. The
Urban Councils Act has the duty to provide goods and services such as water, sewage
disposal, electricity, security of assests for people within the community and road
maintenance.

Urban Council Act provides for the appointment of election of Councilors and
disqualification of Councilors. The Councilors are the Policy makers who form the board for
the Local Authority or Council. They are various committees within the Local Governmet
system which run the Local Authorities and form the standing committees of council which
are established in terms of the Act and they have various functions towards the governance
or the governing of the Local Authorities or local Area such as committee on Finance,
committee on Health and housing, Committee on Environmental Management. It also
provides other services like in the second schedule of the Urban Council Act it provides for
the powers of the Local Authorities. Those are the powers to provide services which I
mentioned above like water and electricity. All those services are found in the Urban
Councils Act.