Interview: Mr Allan Zimbwa

The Blue Deal has had the privilege to interview one of the national partners: Mr Allan Zimbwa of Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA).

Please tell the readers about yourself and MISA and how you and MISA are involved in the Blue Deal South Africa Partnership.

MISA is a government component established under the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Portfolio, in terms of section 7(5) (c) of the Public Service Act (PSA), 1994 and derives its mandate from section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Its establishment was declared by the President of the country in terms of proclamation 29 published in the government gazette in May 2012. Section 7(A) (4) of the Public Service Act empowers the relevant Executive Authority to determine the duties and functions of a government component under his/her authority. To assign the roles and responsibility to MISA, as envisaged under this section, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs published a government notice in July 2013 setting out the objectives, duties, functions and accountability arrangement for MISA.

I am a Civil Engineer appointed as a Deputy Director-General (DDG) for a Branch called Technical Support Services (TSS) at MISA. The TSS Branch is responsible for condition assessments for municipal infrastructure, assessing municipalities technical capacity and come up with a support plan. The same Branch, under another sub-programme, implements the support plan through the built environment professionals that MISA deploy to municipalities. The TSS Branch is also responsible to build the technical capacity of municipalities aimed at capacitating municipal officials as well as building a skills pipeline for municipalities.

MISA is a partner in the Blue Deal South Africa Partnership (BDSAP) as the MISA mandate is aligned to the goals and activities of the BDSAP. The BDSAP advocates for cooperative solving local government level water challenges. This partnership includes the participation of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Dutch Water Authorities, the Water Research Commission (WRC) among others. This approach is the District Development Model (DDM) approach advocated by government in an effort to ensure that interested and affected parties plan, budget and implement together. MISA participated in the Blue Deal first phase’s Crocodile River Project. I am involved in the Blue Deal Project as a member of a Steering Committee comprising of the partners mentioned above represented at executive level.

What do you like most about the Blue Deal Partnership?

The Blue Deal Partnership’s objectives are aligned to national priorities for example building of state capacity, universal access to basic services like water and sanitation as well as ensuring delivery of climate resilient infrastructure.

The knowledge, experiences and lessons learnt from the local pilot projects can now be replicated through workshops, seminars and the active involvement of the national partners. The added advantage is that the exchange of knowledge and experiences is not limited to South Africa.

What is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for the Blue Deal South Africa collaboration? And what do you think is the most critically important first step towards this ambition?

To be part of the team that ensures that the Blue Deal Partnership vision for 2030 is realised.

To make the Blue Deal Partnership a priority collaboration in the course of work.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

Some of MISA’s current financial year priority projects includes improvement of dysfunctional Waste Water Treatment Work (WWTW). MISA will apply the knowledge and lessons learned from the Crocodile River pilot project to deliver on the above-mentioned priority. The knowledge and exposure by the MISA representative who was part of the delegation to the Netherlands is contributing immensely to MISA’s implementation plans.