adminWimbainashe Zhakata Mutare Correspondent
NYANGA Rural District Council has intensified efforts to be accorded town status.
The council earlier this year applied to Government for land to facilitate the expansion of the town.
In an interview, Nyanga council chief executive Mr Zefania Jaravaza said they had met all the conditions required for them to qualify for town status.
“We are waiting for the Ministers of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement; Environment, Water and Climate; and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to give their approval,” he said.
“If we have that land, then we’ll be in a position to say Nyanga is a town but without that, it remains a challenge. Nyanga will just remain a resort area.”
Mr Jaravaza said it was disturbing to note that Nyanga was still operating as a rural area in an urban set-up when it had all the necessary facilities and infrastructure to run as a town.
He said: “For us to succeed in our quest to get the town expanding, we need to negotiate with the Ministry Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the Department of National Parks and demonstrate that the project will not disrupt the environment and other critical functions.”
Mr Jaravaza also said although Nyanga was facing challenges in terms of development capabilities, it was “over-qualified” to be declared a town.
He said the RDC was economically self-sustaining, especially because of the timber industry and other natural resources that are abundant in the district.
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