CCMP Rugare initiative bears fruit

Gilbert Munetsi Review Correspondent
The initiative by the church in conjunction with the community in Rugare high density suburb to resolve the impasse that has seen the township being denied any form of development seems to have borne fruit.

It appears that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has stepped in to resolve it once and for all.

A high-powered delegation, led by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Administrator, Alfred Tome, met with the residents at Rugare Primary School where he brought relief in the form of a promise by the Ministry to permanently address the spiritual, social, economic, physical and developmental needs of the once forsaken people Rugare.

The message he carried with him had hope wrapped around it:

“I am concerned and disturbed that 35 years after attaining independence, the colonial legacy of Rugare being a compound for the then Rhodesia Railways employees is still hanging over the community. Everywhere I hear loud voices speak inter-alia to health and sanitation, extreme poverty, poor recreational facilities, poor public infrastructure and other social vices such as drug and alcohol abuse which are affecting the future of this country, especially our youths.”

Many Rugare residents present at the meeting said that they hoped that the ministry would live up to its promises and not leave them in limbo again.

“Look at our shopping centre. It is closed because there is nothing going on. We have no streets to talk about, just dusty tracks all over. Are we not also residents of the sunshine city that we always hear about? The Government must act now,” said Gogo Mambure who said that her late husband was a National Railways of Zimbabwe employee and she inherited her house on his demise 13 years ago.

The Herald Review carried a story in its October 9 issue highlighting the sorry state of the township which was established back in the mid ‘50s with the convergence of mainly migrant workers (from Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi) to find employment in this high density location situated 7km south of Harare CBD.

However, several inter-racial marriages and many generations after its establishment, the place has been a pathetic sight as the deadlock between the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Harare Municipality remained at play to the detriment of any form of development.

“It is felt by most of the former and current employees of the NRZ staying in Rugare today that they are living a life of neglect. As you may appreciate from your visit, most of the suburb’s infrastructure is dilapidated, having been built in the 1950s when the township was established,” said Councillor Peter Moyo (Ward 13) explained the areas’ woes.

The councillor also spoke of the efforts to resolve the squabbles producing copies of correspondences between various offices which all fizzled out without any progress being made.

The Church and Community Mobilization Process (CCMP), comprising the various denominations from within the decades-old township recently engaged the parent ministry to intervene and help to transform Rugare from a quasi-farm compound status it had been reduced to into a decent urban settlement just like neighbouring Kambuzuma and Highfield.

“The problems – as highlighted by CCMP – are a direct result of the piecemeal approach adopted by the National Railways of Zimbabwe when they handed you over to the City of Harare. Without trying to absolve the City of Harare from providing you with robust municipal services, I put the blame squarely on NRZ which is still holding on to clinics, community halls and other social amenities.

“I therefore assure you of urgent dialogue between my Ministry and that of Transport together with our two public agencies (City of Harare and NRZ) to ensure that clinics, halls stadium and other amenities are handed over to the City of Harare, and this also goes for the undeveloped stands and other open spaces,” Mr Tome said amid ululation.

Acknowledging that most residents of Rugare are senior citizens, the social services and poverty eradication cluster of Zim-Asset would make it possible that they benefit 50 percent discount on rates for those in the category of 65 years and above in line with the monthly meagre pension they are entitled to.

The Ministry was, however, quick emphasise that the CCMP initiative must compliment the efforts of those in authority and not create parallel structures which will worsen the plight of the people of Rugare with the emergence of new tussle games which would lead to the diversion of attention from the real issues.

“Your organisation must adhere to the provisions of the national code on corporate governance as a way of nipping corrupt practices in the bud.

“The 10 point plan for economic growth enunciated by Government regards corruption as one of the greatest enemies to the transformative and developmental agenda if Zim-Asset,” the Deputy Minister said through his emissary (Tome).

Present at the launch ceremony of CCMP was the deputy Mayor for Harare, Chris Mbanga, Ward 13 Councillor Peter Moyo and the chairperson of the excutive committee, Pastor Joseph Shoko.

Churches making up the grouping include the Anglican Church, Baptist, Salvation Army, Presbyterian, CCAP, Evangelical Church, ZAOGA, AFM, AKOP, Zvapupu Zvavapositori and the general members of the community.