Rusape Council shines at ZITF

Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
RUSAPE Town Council has added another feather on its cap after being rated the second best performing urban council in Zimbabwe at the Ministry of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development National Annual Awards held last week in Bulawayo.

As if that was not enough, the Rusape council was also named the best performer in gender main-streaming (upcoming local authority) at an awards ceremony presided over by Dr Ignatius Chombo at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

That Rusape, which has been in the woods, has wormed its way and stole the shine from all, save for Kwekwe Municipality has healed the wounds, erased and put gloss over sad memories of the past decade when the institution hogged limelight for all the wrong reasons.

For the achievement, the local authority was given a shield and a certificate of competency in community service delivery.

Achievements that made the council to scale to such dizzy heights include the renovation of Vengere Stadium to meet the Premier Soccer League standards, purchase of a dumper truck, public lighting, deployment of community health workers in every ward, establishment of ward-based health clubs, market health clubs ,which were aimed at improving the health and livelihoods of residents.

The local authority was highly commended for riding out of the turbulent and challenging storm to relentlessly focus on acquisition of capital equipment to support and improve service delivery which saw it ranking as one of the service delivery cognisant councils.

Rusape Town secretary, Mr Joshua Maligwa on Tuesday was ecstatic about the recognition and reaffirmed his determination to graduate the council into a municipality within the next three years.

“We are revelling in our recognition, but we are not yet there. This is the beginning and we still have a long journey ahead of us. We have been in the woods for too long and as such we have lost out a big deal and we are happy with the award because it is a positive advert for us as a local authority and Manicaland as a province,” said Mr Maligwa.

“Soon or later, we want to attain full municipal status. Being a municipality has its own benefits which at present moment we are not enjoying because we are not up there. There are national programmes that are flying over our heads and we need to triple our efforts on service delivery as an appreciation of unwavering support we are getting from residents and ratepayers,” added Mr Maligwa.

Mr Maligwa said a few things were outstanding for his council to attain full municipality status.

“We have already purchased a 10 000-litre fire tender from China in line with that thrust which should be delivered by the end of this month. The other issues include the construction of a public swimming pool and a golf course.

Apart from these, nothing will prevent us from achieving that,” said Mr Maligwa.

Rusape Residents Trust has congratulated the council and urged it to continue focusing on pertinent issue that benefit the ratepayers.

“That is a positive development and we join them in celebrating such a milestone achievement.

“There is currency in a good name, and we hope such a positive advert of the local authority will help lure investment in Rusape.

“As residents, we shall continue playing our part and support the local authority through the payment of the rates.

“This is proof that our monies are put to good use,” said the trust chairperson, Mr Martin Chaburumunda.