Kadoma calls for resource beneficiation

Chinhoyi Bureau
THE City of Kadoma held its Centenary celebrations last Friday amid calls for a robust vision centred on beneficiation from its vast mining and agricultural potential. The event celebrated 100 years of Kadoma’s existence after first becoming a municipality in 1917 and a city in 2000. Addressing the colourful crowd at Rimuka Stadium, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Webster Shamu said the vision should propel Kadoma into a vibrant city.

“I am sure in honour of the Centenary and perseverance of your predecessors, grand plans will be made to forge the city forward,” said Minister Shamu in a speech read on his behalf by deputy director in his office Mr Douglas Chiwiro.

“The city can benefit more through beneficiation of its products thereby creating more job opportunities for the people of Kadoma.” Surrounded by abundant gold reserves and agriculture where cotton is the major crop, Kadoma’s value chain industries including David Whitehead and Dairibord need to be revamped. Minister Shamu said Government and the business community need to work together to revive industries in the town.

In a speech read on his behalf by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Christopher Chingosho, Minister Saviour Kasukuwere hailed the Centenary celebrations.

“Zimbabwe has maintained a largely reputable system of local governance with amendments being made here and there to make improvements where considered appropriate,” said Minister Kasukuwere. He hailed meaningful developments being made in infrastructure development, rehabilitation of roads, housing projects including Victory Park where about 8 000 housing units will be availed and service delivery in the city.

Service delivery, he said needs to be continuously improved as it is a vehicle for local and national economic development. Minister Kasukuwere said Government had introduced various programmes including Service Level Benchmark, Integrated Results Based Management and the Rapid Results Initiative to push councils to deliver. Kadoma mayor Mr Muchineripi Chinyanganya urged residents to take part in council affairs to help improve service delivery. Mr Leon Benjamin who has helped in coming up with the history of Kadoma, then Gatooma said he took pictures out of interest and sent them to the National Archives.

“I must say I am a self appointed historian of Gatooma now Kadoma. I must acknowledge both names because one gave birth to another. I have a huge collection of photographs at home,” he said. In recognition of his effort, Deputy Minister Chingosho declared Mr Benjamin an honorary citizen of Kadoma. Now with a population of over 100 000 people, Kadoma started off as a railway siding along the then Salisbury-Bulawayo railway line in 1901. It then grew around a canteen and forwarding agency serving mining prospectors and workers operated by trader known as Godwin. With increased flow of people, demand for municipal services led to an establishment of a sanitary board in 1907. By 1912 it had become the third largest settlement in Rhodesia and on August 15, 1917 Kadoma became a municipality.