Municipality Reviews City’s LED Strategy
…Citizens requested to participate in the process. A link to a questionnaire has been made available
As part of its vision “to be a vibrant African city that innovatively provides quality service and economic opportunities to its stakeholders”, the Municipal Council of Manzini is in the process of reviewing its Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy. As a Municipality that encourages stakeholder participation, it seeks to involve citizens in the process. It has appointed Growth map Infonomics, an independent advisory, research and strategy consulting firm, to review and update the strategy. Citizens are, therefore, encouraged to make an input by sharing their views on the appropriate interventions that need to be put in place in order to grow the city’s economy – both the formal and informal business sectors. To participate, citizens are implored to type and click on the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S6TKDYR which will enable them to access a short questionnaire. Alternatively, they can access the link on the Municipality’s Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter (Municipal Council of Manzini) as well as the official WhatsApp number (7808 2333/7908 2333) and the website (www.mzcitycouncil.sz).
What LED is and how it affects citizens
Local Economic Development (LED) is driven by a Local Authority (Municipality) in consultation with its stakeholders to create an enabling environment for increased economic growth and reduction of poverty through employment creation for improved quality of life of the people at the local level.
Rationale behind Strategy review
Over the years the city has seen numerous developments that have drastically changed the face of Manzini and, most importantly, the city’s economy. The ongoing developments create excellent opportunities for Manzini citizens as well as investors and businesses to establish themselves in the city. The Municipality has, therefore, realised the need to review the existing strategy to ensure incorporation of the most recent development changes in the local economy as well as alignment with national initiatives. Review of the strategy, therefore, aims at creating an opportunity wherein local and external stakeholders come together and create relevant development objectives for the city.
Manzini City’s LED Strategy 2015-2018
Since the adoption of the LED Strategy in 2015, the Municipality has implemented a number of economic initiatives as guided by its five objectives. The initiatives include the following:
- Community-based contracting – The Municipality engaged local companies to carry out small contracting jobs such as clearing of storm water drains and vegetation overgrowth removal on road reserves.
- Community labour recruitment – In all the road infrastructure capital projects, the Municipality facilitated for first preference to be given to local citizens in the event there were opportunities for jobs.
- Imali ngetibi programme – a recycling programme that was driven by Manzini youths.
- Job shadowing – an on-the-job learning and career development programme wherein pupils are attached to various workstations in order to gain insight on what the job entails.
- Informal traders capacity building – The Municipality facilitated for training of informal businesspeople on various business management skills.
- Business forum – aimed at ensuring an enabling environment for local business to thrive.
…PLEASE DIARISE:
- (IDP) Feedback Meeting for all citizens this Saturday
The Municipal Council of Manzini invites residents from all the municipal wards (property owners and non-property owners) to a meeting wherein they will be given a progress update on implementation of the 2019-2024 Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The meeting will be held this Saturday at the Council Chamber (civic offices), starting at 8am. In the same meeting the Municipality will present on planned projects and programmes that are planned for delivery by the year 2024. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting without fail.
- Town Planning Scheme Meeting for Ngwane Park residents this Sunday
Ngwane Park residents are invited to a Town Planning Scheme (TPS) meeting which will be held at Ngwane High School Hall this Sunday, starting at 7:30am. The Municipal Council of Manzini, through a professional consultant, will be presenting a draft review of the TPS and also collecting input from residents on how best to make the legal document user-friendly and relevant to their needs. Residents of Ngwane Park Township, Ngwane Park Extension, Sihlahleni, Ndumbu Township and Ticancweni are encouraged to attend the important meeting so that they voice out their thoughts and influence the final document. So far the TPS stakeholder consultation exercise has covered wards 7 and 8 as well as wards 3 and 5. The Municipality is grateful for the attendance and active participation during the meetings. Dates for other TPS meetings will be communicated in due course.
