Garwe directs councils to suspend workshops

Harare, June 1, 2026 (New Ziana) – The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, has ordered all local authorities to halt workshops, overseas travel, conferences, and similar activities that place a financial burden on councils while service delivery remains inadequate.
In a circular sent to all local authorities, Garwe said the Government was concerned by the increasing number of workshops, seminars, symposiums, study tours, and foreign trips being undertaken by municipal officials despite persistent service delivery challenges affecting their councils.
“Accordingly, and with immediate effect, the Ministry hereby places an embargo on all workshops, seminars, symposiums, conferences, foreign travel, and look-and-learn visits involving any type of financial cost to local authorities until further notice. No local authority shall participate in or host any such activity without the approval of the Ministry,” Garwe directed in a circular.
The directive extends to programmes and activities organised or facilitated by Government ministries, departments, and agencies, non-governmental organisations, development partners, associations, private committees, and other entities.
Garwe said all requests and invitations relating to such activities must be forwarded to the Ministry for assessment before local authorities make any commitment to participate or attend.
Future approval of workshops and similar engagements will be considered only where they make a direct contribution to the attainment of minimum service delivery standards and the enhancement of service delivery.
“Going forward, consideration for approval of such activities shall strictly be based on their direct contribution toward the attainment of the minimum service delivery standards and improvement of service delivery in local authorities.
“Priority shall only be given to programmes with clear and measurable benefits to core service delivery functions. All councils immediately submit schedules of previously approved workshops, seminars, conferences, foreign travel, and related activities through their respective desk officers.
“Further to the above, all local authorities are directed to immediately submit, through their immediate desk officers, schedules of all workshops, foreign travel, seminars, symposiums, conferences, look-and-learn activities and other related programmes that had already received approval before the issuance of this circular,” Garwe said.
He cautioned that councils that fail to adhere to the directive will face appropriate disciplinary action.
New Ziana