Mayor Welcome Speech to UCAZ Finance Committee Meeting 7 March 2019

It is a great honour to welcome you to the Ancient City of Masvingo for the meeting of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe Finance Committee.

I am so glad that you have chosen Masvingo as the venue for this very important meeting as you deliberate and chart the path to ensure that UCAZ survives the prevailing harsh economic climate characterised by ever rising cost of goods and services and shortage of same.

At local authority level, the economic challenges have had a visible effect on service delivery notably regular breakdown of refuse collection fleet, pumps and other accessories whose spares require foreign currency that we are failing to access from the Apex Bank.

I trust that you are going to draw inspiration from the indestructibility of the Great Zimbabwe Monument just 30km from the City Centre, to come up with innovative strategies to assist local authorities/UCAZ to remain in existence and relevant in this ever changing environment.

I wish you the best in your meeting and once more enjoy our hospitality.

Thank you.