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The Herald, August 25, 1990
RUWA now has its own local government after the Ruwa Local Board was created by a Presidential proclamation yesterday.
In terms of the proclamation, the boundaries of the Bromley-Ruwa Rural Council area were altered to separate Ruwa from the area’s Ward VII.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Local boards are established in settlements with a very small population, or in centres not able to sustain themselves without central government assistance. These boards are charged with decision-making on local issues, activities and services, and provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans and decisions.
There are five local boards in the country, Chirundu Local Board in Mashonaland West Province, Epworth and Ruwa Local Boards in Harare Metropolitan Province and Hwange and Lupane Local Boards in Matabeleland North Province.
Some of the local boards were formerly growth points that were established by the Government soon after the country’s independence in 1980. The growth points strategy was aimed at decongesting urban centres by elevating some business centres to growth point status in order to curb rural and urban migration with work opportunities and the provision of basic essential services available at growth points.
Ruwa was established as a Growth Point 1986 in terms of the Acts, Income Tax Chapter (23:06) and Sales Tax Chapter (23:08). Since becoming a local authority, Ruwa, which is just 25km from the capital Harare along the Harare-Mutare highway has grown steadily and now boasts of a growing industrial and residential area.
The local board has since applied for town status amid reports that it is sitting on an investment portfolio worth US$1 billion that includes property and industrial expansion.
Part of the proposed investment includes a US$10 million property development commitment from a Ruwa property developer Marcus Communications Pvt Ltd.
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