Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
Gweru City Council (GCC) has planted 30 hectares of winter wheat at its Go Beer Farm, as part of efforts to diversify its revenue streams.
Last year, council put the same area under winter wheat, which was used in the production of the popular Go Beer, brewed by the council-owned Go Beer Breweries Company.
After harvesting the wheat, Gweru City Council followed up by planting 200 hectares of maize to further boost agricultural production and revenue.
In his State of the City address, Gweru Mayor, Councillor Martin Chivhoko said the local authority is exploring various business opportunities to expand its revenue base.
“Under the business and economic development, the revival of Go Beer in December 2024 has created 80 direct jobs, contributing to economic growth. The city is expecting around 200 tonnes of white maize in the 2024-2025 farming season and has put 30 hectares under winter wheat,” he said.
Councillor Chivhoko said the truck park project is at an advanced stage while the quarry mining project is also progressing well.
“As of April 30, 2025, council owed service providers and institutions over ZWG 565 million. These include companies such as ZETDC and the Local Authorities Pension Fund ( LAPF). I therefore urge citizens to pay their bills to support the growth and development of our city,” he said.
Clr Chivhoko said that as the local authority continues to navigate the complexities of urban development, it is essential to acknowledge the progress made while addressing the areas that require improvement.
He said water supplies have significantly improved, particularly the pumping at the Gwenhoro Water Works where capacity has increased from 40 to 60 megalitres a day as six pumps are now fully operational.
“This enhancement will undoubtedly contribute to a more reliable water supply for our residents. However, the Whitewaters Pumping Station is operating at a relatively low capacity and as such is pumping just two megalitres per day. We are prioritising efforts to optimise its performance and ensure a consistent water supply across the city,” said Clr Chivhoko.
He said the state of the road infrastructure is a critical aspect of urban development, adding that notable progress in pothole patching has been made.
Clr Chivhoko said 70 percent of the road network in the CBD has been rehabilitated.
“Specific roads worked on include 7th Street, 6th Street, 5th Street, ED Mnangagwa Street, 2nd Street, Kopje Road, and RG Mugabe Road. Additionally, we undertook major road regravelling and grading works, attending to roads such as Rufaro Street in Ascot, Ziyambe Road in Mkoba 15, Coventry Road and those in the Light Industrial Area, among others.
“In total, approximately 30 kilometres of the gravel road network were regravelled, significantly improving accessibility and reducing travel time for our residents,” he said.
Clr Chivhoko said council was happy that traffic lights at three intersections in the CBD are now functional.
“About 16 intersections are to be restored by January 2026,” he said.
Clr Chivhoko said approximately one kilometre of drainage has been serviced, with one concrete structure installed along 10th Street.
“Although equipment deployment in Gokwe affected operations, repatriation is underway, and we expect to return to full capacity soon. Gweru’s two main sewer treatment plants, Cambridgeshire and Outfall Works, are operating low capacity. Our key focus for 2025 is to enhance collection capacity and improve effluent quality to meet Environmental Management Agency (EMA) standards.
“We have observed significant inflows of effluent for irrigation at Go Beer Farm following major maintenance works on two sewer outfall lines.
“However, persistent power outages continue to disrupt effluent pumping. To address this, we are in the process of procuring new pumping equipment and pipework to replace the outdated infrastructure,” he said.
Councillor Chivhoko said health services remain a top priority, noting that three refuse compactors are operational. However, he acknowledged that vehicle challenges have led to a backlog in refuse collection, a situation the council is actively working to resolve.
“Clinics are facing power supply challenges, but we have procured rechargeable lamps to assist staff at night. We also took part in commemorating World Health Day, demonstrating our continued commitment to public health,” he said.
Under housing, Clr Chivhoko said the Mkoba 21 housing scheme is being serviced by three land developers: Sheasham Investments, Wackdrive and Casas. He noted that Sheasham Investments has completed its servicing and has been issued a compliance certificate, while Casas and Wackdrive are at 30 percent and 60 percent completion, respectively.
“This progress will contribute significantly to addressing the housing needs of our residents. However, we are pushing Casas and Wackdrive to complete work as soon as possible.”
Clr Chivhoko said maintenance work is underway at the city’s cemeteries, Mtapa, Mkoba, Senga and Mtasa, including grass cutting, bush clearance and rehabilitation of feeder roads.
“We plan to erect a palisade fence, construct ablution facilities, a modern crematorium, a waiting room, and we want information on graves and burials computerised,” he said.
