Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
RUSAPE Town Council last week unveiled yellow equipment, marking a paradigm shift from reactive patchwork to proactive, asset-backed service delivery, coupled with a decisive regulatory move to force the Central Business District (CBD) to build upwards.
With the machinery for efficiency on the ground and minimum two-storey standards for new CBD buildings, this positions the town for renewal in line with Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritise efficient service delivery and resilient infrastructure as drivers of inclusive growth and an upper-middle-income economy anchored by functional, smart and habitable local authorities.
The local authority took delivery of a backhoe loader, roller compactor, refuse compactor, seven skip bins, and two brand-new trucks dedicated to water and sewer response.
A honey sucker, currently being manufactured in China, is expected within the next two months. The roller compactor will fall under the Engineering Department for road compaction and creation of new roads.
The combination of equipment and new building standards signals a deliberate break from the town’s old image.
Across Rusape CBD, commercial blocks, service centres and public facilities are rising, giving the town a sharper and more modern look.
The acquisition of critical equipment using a blend of devolution funds and internally generated resources demonstrates how devolution is being operationalised under the Second Republic.
Under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, devolution funds have become a lifeline for local authorities that for years struggled with obsolete or hired equipment. The funds have allowed councils to acquire graders, refuse compactors, water bowsers, ambulances and service vehicles without waiting for central allocation.
Rusape Town Council spokesperson, Mr Lloyd Makumana, said the investment was deliberate and funded using devolution funds and council resources.
“As Rusape Town Council, we managed to acquire top-of-the-range equipment meant for service delivery. The equipment includes two trucks, backhoe loader, roller compactor and seven skip bins.
‘‘All this is meant to capacitate us towards service delivery. We intend to improve on refuse collection and waste management, as well as work on our roads so that they are trafficable,” he said, adding that the trucks will go to the sewer and water teams to ensure efficiency in attending to faults.
“These machines will mean that there is going to be less time in attending to sewer blockages and water pipe bursts, thus creating efficiency in doing business with the residents. As Rusape Town Council, we will leave no stone unturned in trying to give our residents quality services,” said Mr Makumana.
He said Rusape is shedding its old skin, and urged residents to play their part by paying monthly bills and arrears, assuring them that the money is being put to good use.
“Efficient water and sewer management is a public health imperative,” he said.
Rusape has a history of ageing water and sewer reticulation infrastructure that bursts frequently, leaving streets flowing with effluent, particularly in high-density areas.
The consequences are severe, with sewer ponding contaminating shallow wells, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and rendering the environment uninhabitable. Burst water pipes lead to non-revenue water losses, rationing and prolonged dry spells for households.
“The new equipment directly addresses this vulnerability. Dedicated response trucks mean faster turnaround times, less environmental pollution and a more hydrated, healthy community where water is available and waste is managed promptly and professionally,” he said.
Mr Makumana said guided by the new Rusape Master Plan, the town is being reorganised into functional zones to ensure orderly growth and better land use.
“Council has set minimum standards for CBD buildings, with all new projects required to have at least two storeys, in line with the smart city and urban renewal concept,” he said.
Rusape Residents Trust chairman, Mr Portipher Guta, said the latest move augurs well for a town vying for municipal status against a backdrop of old, dilapidated structures and fragmented development.
He said building upwards optimises scarce CBD land, increases rateable space, improves aesthetics and attracts private investment.
Mr Guta urged the local authority to stay focused on equipment and services that have direct and positive impact on residents, from trafficable roads to prompt attention to water and sewer bursts to ensure a habitable community.
“We welcome the new equipment as a step in the right direction, but our appeal as residents is for council to continue prioritising service delivery that changes lives on a daily basis.
‘‘When roads are graded and compacted, when refuse is collected on time, and when sewer bursts are attended to within hours, residents feel the value of paying rates. That is how trust is built,” said Mr Guta.
