Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu, [email protected]
THE Mangwe Rural District Council (RDC) has moved its main offices from Plumtree town to Ingwizi Growth Point in a bid to bring services closer to the people it serves.
The decision marks a major shift for the local authority, which has for years operated from Plumtree, a border town. Ingwizi Growth Point lies about 90 kilometres to the east and is more central to most of the district’s rural communities.
Council officials say the move is meant to make it easier and cheaper for residents to access key services, especially those who live far from Plumtree.
In an official notice, the council informed residents, stakeholders and the general public that all main administrative services will now be handled from the new offices starting next month.
The new headquarters are located at a complex previously used by World Vision Zimbabwe, next to the Community Hall at Ingwizi.
While the main offices have shifted, the council has confirmed that its Plumtree office will remain open, but only as a sub-office offering limited services.
“Mangwe Rural District Council wishes to advise its clients, stakeholders and members of the general public that, with effect from 1 July 2026, its main office for all operations and transactions will relocate to Ingwizi Growth Point,” said the council in the statement.
“The Plumtree office will become a sub-office offering limited services such as settlement of bills and general enquiries. Most of the office space will be available for rental.”
Bringing services closer to the people
For many years, residents in rural parts of Mangwe District have complained about the long distances they had to travel to access council services in Plumtree. For some communities, the journey was not only long but also expensive and time-consuming.
The council says the relocation is meant to address these challenges.
“Nearly eight wards are close to the growth point. Communities like Mambale used to travel almost 200km to reach Plumtree for council services. Now they will have the main office much closer,” said Mangwe RDC.
For villagers and small-scale farmers, a trip to Plumtree often meant spending money on transport they could barely afford. In some cases, people had to spend the night in town, adding to their costs.
The move to Ingwizi is expected to reduce both travel time and expenses, making it easier for residents to access services such as paying rates, applying for permits, and registering land.
Mixed but largely positive reaction
Some stakeholders have welcomed the decision, saying it makes sense to have the main offices in a more central location.
“The move of the offices is not wrong. Ingwizi seems more central than Plumtree Town,” said a stakeholder from Ward 11.
Ingwizi’s central position means it is closer to a larger number of wards compared to Plumtree, which sits on the edge of the district near the Botswana border.
Council officials believe that this will improve service delivery, as more people will be able to reach the offices without travelling long distances.
Cost savings and better efficiency
Apart from helping residents, the council says the move will also reduce its own operational costs.
Running the main offices from a central location is expected to cut down on staff travel and other expenses linked to servicing distant communities from Plumtree.
By bringing offices closer to the majority of wards, the council hopes to improve efficiency and respond more quickly to issues affecting rural areas.
At the same time, the decision to rent out most of the office space in Plumtree is expected to generate additional income for the local authority.
Supporting rural development
The relocation also fits into a broader government push to take services closer to the people, especially in rural areas.
Growth points like Ingwizi are seen as centres of development, where services, businesses and infrastructure can be expanded to benefit surrounding communities.
By moving its main offices to Ingwizi, Mangwe RDC is expected to stimulate activity in the area and support local economic growth.
The council believes that having a strong administrative presence at the growth point will attract more services and investment over time.
A long-awaited move
For many residents, the decision comes after years of frustration over access to services.
People living in remote areas often had to choose between making costly trips to Plumtree or delaying important tasks such as paying rates or processing documents.
With the new offices now closer to home, many are likely to benefit from easier and quicker access to council services.
Residents in central and western parts of Mangwe, in particular, are expected to see immediate improvements.
Looking ahead
As the relocation takes effect, the focus will be on how well the new system works for both residents and the council.
While Plumtree will continue to provide basic services such as bill payments and general enquiries, most key functions will now be handled from Ingwizi.
If successful, the move could serve as a model for other rural councils facing similar challenges of distance and access.
For now, the council says its goal is simple — to make services more accessible, reduce the burden on residents, and improve the overall delivery of its operations.
For many in Mangwe, this shift may finally bring essential services within easier reach.
