Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
LOCAL authorities across Manicaland Province are prioritising water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and road rehabilitation in their 2027 budgets as they seek to improve service delivery and address infrastructure challenges.
These priorities are emerging as councils conduct budget consultations with residents and stakeholders to gather public input on resource allocation.
Access to clean and safe water, improved waste management, reliable sanitation, and better roads remain key concerns, with communities expecting councils to channel more resources into addressing these hurdles.
Chipinge Town Council chairman, Councillor Kingston Dhlumo, said the local authority intends to carry out a feasibility study to change its water source from Bangazani Dam to Jopa, where water can be channelled through gravity.
Currently, the council pumps water uphill, incurring steep electricity charges.
He also noted that resources will be made available to purchase road equipment and a stone crusher.
“We are focusing mainly on an alternative source of water as the town population is growing rapidly and new suburbs are coming up. That source of water should be reasonably cheaper than the current one in terms of pumping. Our existing source is Bangazani Dam which is on the downward side of the town, and we have to pump up the hill, straining our pumps. We are doing feasibility studies to draw water from Jopa. The water will flow via gradient.
“The pumping cost from Bangazani Dam is very expensive, going up to US$100 000 a month in electricity bills alone. This is in addition to water and chemicals. That bill is taking a toll on council finances. We are also planning to construct reservoir tanks. Currently, we are pumping even during peak hours where electricity charges are high. If we have reservoirs, we will pump during ZESA off peak hours, and store the water which we will gradually distribute to consumers.
“We are also eyeing roads revamping. We are purchasing our concrete stones from Marondera where they are affordable, but transporting them is expensive. We are considering acquiring a stone crusher so that we make our own concrete stones. The crusher will come with other complementing road equipment such as spreaders. The idea is to minimise out sourcing machinery and equipment which will reduce the cost of maintaining our road network,” said Councillor Dhlumo.
Mutasa Rural District Council chairman, Councillor Paddington Nemaunga, revealed that the council has started procuring prepaid water meters for Penhalonga to improve revenue collection and ensure timely payments to its supplier, Mutare City Council.
“We are targeting to purchase road equipment which includes a rig and a dozer to complement a grader we acquired this year. We want to raise funds to upgrade Tsvingwe Road in Penhalonga into a surfaced road. We will start with a 5km stretch. Street lightning is also an area of priority, particularly in Tsvingwe and Mutasa DC. This year we covered Hauna Business Centre.
“There are rising cases of muggings especially in Tsvingwe where criminals are taking advantage of the darkness to attack people. We are introducing prepaid water meters in Penhalonga. The first batch of 400 meters will be received soon and installed,” said Councillor Nemaunga.
Buhera Rural District Council is prioritising staff housing for health workers, the construction of classroom blocks, and the replacement of damaged solar equipment.
Council chairperson, Alderman Thomas Matsenhura, outlined plans to assist communities in constructing weir dams for water harvesting.
“Our target for the 2027 financial year is to purchase a grader to complement the one we have. We want to acquire a tipper. In the four constituencies, we intend to construct a classroom block each to improve education provision. In the health sector, we will complete Garawaziwa, Mavhurogudo and Nechishanu clinics where staff houses are still outstanding.
“We need to maintain our approach roads in schools and clinics which have a network of 180km. We will connect the remaining clinics which have no connected water for their maternity wings. We are budgeting for the replacement of stolen and vandalised solar equipment at health institutions.
“Council will work with communities in promoting water harvesting for future agricultural use. Council will assist communities to set up weir dams along the rivers so that people can draw water for irrigation and practice agriculture all year round.
“At Murambinda Town, we will continue with road surfacing, paving and drainage works, and it will be completed by the first quarter of 2027 if all goes according to our plans. We want Murambinda to be a smart and well maintained town so that we will continue to attract investors,” said Alderman Matsenhura.
Councils prioritise WASH, roads
