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Fortunate Gora Mash West Correspondent
Government has appointed a six-member commission to assess the state of Chinhoyi Municipality’s readiness for city status.
The commission comprises the ministry’s principal director for urban local authorities, Ms Erica Jones; former Kwekwe town clerk Mr Musara Ngwena, Engineer Edwick Vheremu, principal planning officer Mr Kudakwashe Hlatshwayo, financial advisor Mr Theodore Dzvairo and principal administrative officer Mr Munyaradzi Motsi.
The commission was appointed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo in terms of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).
The municipality was advised of the commission in a circular sent that read: “In response to your application dated 5 December, we wish to inform you that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has in terms of Sub-section 3 of Section 14 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) appointed a commission to look into your application.”
The six-member commission is expected to visit Chinhoyi town at the end of February.
The correspondence further stated that the local authority’s previous applications and commissions did not use any laid down criteria for city status other than the general issues raised in the first schedule of the Urban Councils Act, hence the appointment of the commission.
According to the letter, the costs of the inquiry would be borne by Chinhoyi Municipality as provided for under Section 14 (3) (a) of the Act.
In 2016, Government turned down an application by Chinhoyi Municipality to be accorded city status, saying it lacked the requisite basic infrastructure of a city.
The Mashonaland West provincial capital has been pressing for city status, but Government turned down several of its applications.
Government had continuously argued that outstanding issues such as an improvement in service delivery and infrastructure development should be addressed.
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