Govt Endorses HIT's LADS System

Rutendo Mazhindu- Zim Now Reporter

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, A.T. Mavunga, met Harare Institute of Technology Vice Chancellor Professor Quinton Kanhukamwe today to discuss the Local Authorities Database System, a business solutions software developed by HIT to enhance service delivery in local authorities.

LADS lead engineer Tererai Maphosa outlined the system’s capabilities, which include automating financial management, administration, engineering, land management, property oversight, parking, and other critical municipal functions.

He said LADS is designed as an enterprise resource planning tool to improve efficiency, financial prudence, and resource allocation in local authorities.

Mavunga commended HIT’s innovation, emphasizing the need for swift implementation across all 92 local authorities, with potential for adoption beyond Zimbabwe if successfully deployed.

He urged HIT to pilot a fully digitized version of LADS at Gutu Rural District Council to assess its effectiveness in enhancing service delivery.

Mutare, Masvingo, and Chinhoyi, among other local authorities already using LADS, have reported notable improvements in revenue collection and a reduction in financial leakages.

The system includes features such as mobile revenue collection, the e-Musika app, e-business licensing, and smart parking solutions aimed at increasing municipal revenues.

Mavunga stressed the urgency of digital transformation in local governance, warning that delays in implementation could see local authorities falling behind in an era of artificial intelligence and rapid technological advancements.

Government officials and HIT representatives also attended the meeting, which reinforced the ‘Call-to-Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery’ blueprint urging local authorities to embrace digital solutions for improved governance.