Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE City Council’s plan to install at least one tower light per budget year has failed to materialise due to insufficient funds collected from the lighting fee levy.
During the 1,326th full council meeting held on Monday at the Council Chamber, Mutare Civic Centre, Councillor Blessing Murindashaka of Ward 9, questioned the local authority’s progress on constructing tower lights as initially planned.
“If you recall, we constructed two new tower lights in Ward 5 at Mwamuka Shops and in Ward 7 at Matongo Shops between 2022 and 2023. The idea was to install at least two tower lights per budget calendar, subject to fund availability.
“We enquired at the beginning of 2024 and were informed that construction of additional tower lights was scheduled to commence in Ward 1 and Ward 17.
However, nothing has materialised to date,” said Cllr Murindashaka.
In response, Mutare City Council’s acting Finance Director, Mr Reuben Guni, attributed the delay to insufficient funds collected from the ring-fenced lighting levy.
“We have been allocating funds specifically for street lighting, but the amount collected is minimal. However, we will endeavour to commit funds to install at least one tower light,” he said.
Director of Engineering and Technical Services, Engineer Maxwell Kerith reported that the local authority is currently repairing 21 tower lights in Dangamvura and Sakubva.
“Presently, we are repairing 21 tower lights that were previously inaccessible due to the lack of a crane. We agreed with the Town Clerk to postpone the repairs until we acquired a fire ladder.
“Now that the fire ladder has arrived, we commenced repairs on Friday and aim to complete the repairs of the 18 tower lights in Dangamvura and three in Sakubva by the end of June,” said Engineer Kerith.
