Siphelele Nketo 

UMZIMVUBU Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape kick-started its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget Outreach programmes in wards to provide residents with opportunities to engage directly with municipal leadership on the municipal draft budget.

The programme was launched in EmaXesibeni on Tuesday, May 5, and was anticipated to be wrapped up by Friday, May 8.

Leading the programme was Mayor Zukiswa Ndevu together with municipal members of the executive committee.

To make the programme successful, the municipality deployed seven teams to engage communities in all wards.

In most wards, community members participated in discussions, focusing on service delivery challenges and infrastructure development.

In Ward 6, Vuyolwethu Gogela, a traditional leader, thanked the municipality for engagement with the community, saying that it gives them an opportunity to engage directly with the government on service delivery needs.

He encouraged young people to actively participate in programmes and meetings like these to shape the future.

He also called on the government to strengthen monitoring and oversight during implementation of projects to ensure accountability and proper service delivery. Meanwhile the IDP session in Ward 10 was cancelled after community members raised concerns about an incomplete electricity project on Wednesday.

The municipality said that it will engage all parties to ensure that the project is completed.