Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
GOVERNMENT is planning to set up a local board that will manage the affairs of Victoria Ranch suburb under Masvingo City.
At least 16 000 new houses have been constructed in the suburb over the past two decades.
The Victoria Ranch Local Board will spearhead an ambitious programme to develop infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer reticulation and install electricity in the sprawling suburb.
Victoria Ranch has been credited for stemming the runaway housing backlog in the ancient city that at one time hovered around 40 000.
Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, says plans are already in motion to set up the Victoria Ranch Local Board.
“The board will spearhead Victoria Ranch’s transformation into a well-serviced suburb in line with plans to turn Masvingo City into an industrialised metropolitan by the year 2030,” he said.
Vashandi Housing Co-operative chairman in Victoria Ranch, Mr Goddard Dunira revealed several initiatives to improve services in the new suburb.
“We want to thank the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa for the support that Victoria Ranch continues to receive, especially considering that its development greatly reduced the housing backlog in Masvingo City,” said Mr Dunira.
The Vashandi Housing Co-operative chair, who is also treasurer for Ravjic Investments, a land development firm, appealed to the Government for help in developing the suburb.
“We need assistance from the central government to procure more transformers so that Victoria Ranch is fully electrified,” he said.
“We also need assistance to upgrade roads for them to be trafficable and also assistance to build water and sewer reticulation to all corners of the suburb.”
Vashandi and Ravjic are two of the biggest land developers in the suburb that was opened around 2006.
