Our Arial view
Accessibility statement
Mutasa Rural District Council was previously known as Chitepo District Council. It is one of the seven (7) rural Local Authorities in Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. Mutasa RDC is divided into thirty-one (31) Wards. Its Head Offices are situated at Mutasa District Service Centre which is fifty-eight (58) kilometres north of the City of Mutare The district stretches up to the Honde Valley which is about 100 km North East of Mutare. It borders with Nyanga District in the north, Mozambique in the east, City of Mutare and Mutare District in the south and Makoni District in the west.
Mutasa district is a predominately agro-based region were villagers practice semi-commercial agriculture growing maize, groundnuts, sugarcane and herding cattle, goats and producing poultry. Some of the villages are small-holder growers of coffee, tea and banana plantations. The district has several plantations and estates that provide employment, with large scale commercial plantations producing timber, coffee and tea estates.
Mutasa RDC like all other rural local authorities was created in terms of the Rural District Councils Act [Cap: 29:13] and is mandated with the provision of quality service delivery the residents, stakeholders and ratepayers of Mutasa district. It has forty (40) Councillors made up of thirty-one (31) elected Councillors and nine (9) from the Women’s Quota. It has eight (8) Committees and seven (7) departments.
Vision Statement
A Pacesetter in local authority service delivery and corporate governance by 2030
Mission Statement
To provide infrastructural development, social services and manage natural resources to improve community livelihoods.
Core Values
The local authority is guided by the following set of values; TIRIVANHU. We regard humanity as an integral part of the eco-systems that lead to a communal responsibility to sustain life.
- Transparency
We disclose full information in time to relevant stakeholders, where applicable.
- Integrity
We are fair, ethical, and honest in our dealings with all our stakeholders. In doing so, we apply agreed policies equally to all, maintain the highest of personal, professional, and ethical conduct.
- Responsiveness
We timely, efficiently, and effectively attend to the needs of the people in line with our service charter.
- Impartiality
We exercise independence and objectivity in dealing with our stakeholders and clients.
- Visionary Leadership
We allow the leaders and followers to move together towards a shared view of the future inspiring our teams to reach organizational goals
- Accountability
We take full responsibility and are answerable for our decisions and actions.
- Unhu/ Ubuntu
We regard humanity as an integral part of the eco-systems that lead to a communal responsibility to sustain life
Mandate
Mutasa RDC is a local authority that derives its broad mandate from Section 275 of the Zimbabwean Constitution which causes the establishment of rural local authorities. Further the local authority is guided as an organisation by Section 276 of the constitution on its functions and responsibility which allows the local authority the ‘right to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of the people within the area it is established’.
Broadly, Mutasa RDC has the power to raise sufficient revenue to effectively discharge its duties and responsibilities and make by-laws, regulations or rules for effective administration of its jurisdictional area. Apart from the Constitution, the local authority is guided by subsidiary legislation with the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13] being the main Act directing how the Rural District Council conducts business.
The local authority is also guided by other several pieces of subsidiary legislation including but not limited to the ones listed below
a. Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20 of 2013) Chapter 14 Section 275
- Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20 of 2013) Chapter 14 Section 275
- Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13]/li>
- Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15]
- Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19]
- Regional, Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12]
- Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:26]
- Public Health Act [Chapter 15:09]
- Housing and Building Act [Chapter 22:07]
- Housing Standards Control Act [Chapter 29:08]
- Liquor Act [Chapter 14:12].
- Shop Licenses Act [Chapter 14:17]
- Burial and Cremation Act [Chapter 5:03]
- Valuers Act [Chapter 27:18] (Act No. 5 of 1996)
- Roads Act [Chapter 13:18]
- Water Act [Chapter 20:22].
- Traditional Beer Act [Chapter 14:24]
- Communal Lands Act (Chapter 20:04)
- Forestry Produce Act (Chapter 19:04)
- Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05)
- National Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14)
Mutasa Rural District Council Service Commitments
Mutasa Rural District Council strives to offer the best quality service to all its clients and to meet the expectations of all its stakeholders. After extensive internal and external consultation and dialogue the local authority completed formulation of its strategic plan for the period 2021 – 2025. The plan signifies the small but incremental steps towards providing good quality services to its clientele.
While the local authority is making every effort to streamline and optimise its operations it is not spared from the general macro-economic conditions that are characterised by liquidity challenges and late or non-payment of rates by ratepayers among other challenges affecting local authorities and businesses in Zimbabwe. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges, Mutasa Rural District Council always endeavours, with the support of its clients and stakeholders, to offer the best quality services and make Mutasa District the first choice for business, investment and tourism.
Service Delivery Commitments
Mutasa RDC promises its clients, citizens and stakeholders that at all times, the Council and its staff will:
- Greet all our clients at our front offices with friendliness and a smile.
- Be open and communicate clearly and effectively in plain language.
- Endeavour to answer your telephone calls to Council official lines within five rings during business hours.
- We will respond to letters, emails, queries and correspondence within one week of receipt.
- Provide our clients with full information on our services and how we are performing on an annual basis.
- Consult and involve our present and potential stakeholders and use their views to improve the services we provide.
- Endeavour to make services easily available to everyone who needs them.
- Treat clients fairly, respect their privacy and dignity, be helpful and courteous.
- Pay specific attention to those with special needs and vulnerable groups, particularly women, people with disabilities, the youth, the poor and the girl child.
- Learn from complaints and have a clear, well-publicised and user-friendly complaints procedure.
- Use resources effectively to provide value for money and accountability to clients and ratepayers.
- Provide a contact name and telephone number in all correspondence.
General obligations and rights of clients and citizens
- Comply with all relevant laws and by-laws of Council.
- Pay Council bills on time.
- Participate in community meetings.
- Provide feedback through available mechanisms including full Council meetings, budget consultations, and development planning meetings.
- Monitor service levels and raise complains when services have not been met to the prescribed standard.
- Report faults or blockages in our infrastructure
- Treat Council staff fairly and courteously
- Not offer bribes nor corrupt Council staff