Tinotenda Hove- The Government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce a new law that would legally compel ministries, departments and government agencies to meet performance targets, a proposal critics are likely to scrutinise against years of complaints over poor public service delivery and unfulfilled promises.

Speaking at the High-Level Forum on Public Sector Reforms and Transformation in Kadoma, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said the proposed Government Performance and Results Bill would transform performance contracts from administrative agreements into legally enforceable obligations.

The announcement comes as many Zimbabweans continue to raise concerns over deteriorating public services, delays in infrastructure projects and inefficiencies across several government institutions, prompting questions about why stronger accountability measures are only now being pursued.

Dr Rushwaya admitted that the current system requires stronger enforcement, saying: “To sustain these gains, there is a need to broaden the coverage of performance contracts, strengthen accountability for non-performance and support the system through the promulgation of an appropriate legislative framework.”

He added: “In this regard, the proposed Government Performance and Results Bill is expected to reinforce results-based management.”

Under the proposed legislation, ministries, departments and agencies would be legally required to develop performance plans, submit regular reports and undergo independent evaluations.

The Bill would also introduce enforcement mechanisms for institutions that consistently fail to meet agreed targets.

Dr Rushwaya said the proposed law would “give legal effect to performance contracting; clarify institutional roles and responsibilities guided by the Integrated Results-Based Management principles; mandate periodic reporting and independent evaluations; and establish enforcement mechanisms for non-performance.”

While government officials argue the Bill will improve efficiency, the proposal is likely to fuel debate over whether legislation alone can solve long-standing governance challenges. Observers note that performance contracts have existed since 2021, yet complaints over poor service delivery, slow project implementation and weak accountability have persisted.

Another key issue likely to attract public attention is that the Government has not yet explained what penalties will apply to officials or institutions that repeatedly fail to meet their targets. Without clear sanctions, critics may argue that the reforms risk becoming another bureaucratic exercise with limited practical impact.
Dr Rushwaya also acknowledged persistent structural problems within government, including overlapping responsibilities and poor coordination.

“It is the President’s prerogative to assign the administration of Acts to ministers in line with Section 104(1) of the Constitution,” he said.
He added: “Resultantly, duplications and overlapping mandates leading to misallocation of resources, poor coordination and turf wars have been noted.”

Beyond the proposed Bill, the Government says it intends to introduce an Integrated Government Delivery Dashboard, a Citizen Engagement Platform, governance scorecards informed by public feedback and expanded digital government systems aimed at monitoring performance more effectively.

Despite these promises, the proposed reforms are expected to face close public scrutiny, with many likely to judge their success not by new legislation or policy announcements, but by visible improvements in healthcare, education, infrastructure, water supply and other essential public services that directly affect citizens’ daily lives.