The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in Zimbabwe has issued a strong warning to council officials regarding the gross abuse of Cabinet Authority for external travel, particularly for conference benchmarking. The Ministry emphasized that such authority is granted solely for representing the Republic of Zimbabwe, its provinces, and local authorities in pursuit of national interest, investment promotion, service delivery, partnerships, and advancing the Government’s development agenda. It is not intended as a privilege for personal enrichment or aggrandizement.
Key Players Involved
- Ministry of Local Government and Public Works: Issued the warning against the abuse of Cabinet Authority.
- Council Officials: The primary recipients of the warning, accused of misusing travel authorizations.
- Dr. Wilton Mhanda: Town Secretary for Epworth Local Board, who read the letter from the Ministry at a full council meeting.
Event Timeline
- May 20, 2026 (Tuesday): A letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, detailing the warning, was read by Dr. Wilton Mhanda at a full council meeting.
- May 21, 2026 (Today): The warning against the abuse of Cabinet Authority for external travel by council officials was reported.
- Current Status: The government is actively reminding officials of the proper use of Cabinet Authority, indicating a crackdown on potential corruption and misuse of public resources.
