Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
HAVING recently assumed office, Gwanda Mayor Councillor Thulani Moyo believes that the mining town’s economy is a sleeping giant which needs awakening through the implementation of strategic development programmes.
He has already set the ball rolling with major focus being on industrialising the town, improving the council’s revenue collection base for improved service delivery and sprucing up the town in order to attract investment.
Before being elected into office, Clr Moyo, who won on a Zanu-PF ticket, was the local authority’s environmental management works committee chairperson. Clr Moyo assumed the role of mayor at a time when residents have been crying for improved service delivery in the town. Issues of water supply, sewer reticulation, refuse collection, street lighting, improper disposal of waste, poor road network, among others have remained of concern for residents from the mining town.
One of the sticky issues has been that of the town’s dumpsite which was condemned a decade ago due to its proximity to residential areas.
For years, residents of the mining town waited anxiously for the local authority to act on the issue, which is affecting them as the hazardous smoke encroaches on their homes and puts their health in danger.
Gwanda Municipality in 2015 constructed a compliance landfill with the assistance of World Vision, and last year the local authority passed a resolution to move the dumpsite and set a deadline of April 30, which it failed to meet.
For the landfill to start functioning, a compactor, bulldozer, front-end loader, excavator, weighing scale, and a self-weighing compactor truck are needed.
The landfill will help solve the waste disposal challenges that the town is facing. Residents from Garikai/ Hlalani Kuhle whose houses are located near the illegal dumpsite are the most affected.
Consistent water supply has been another challenge in the mining town despite the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) recently handing over the management of water systems to the local authority, ending a decade-long stand-off over the issue.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, presided over the historic change-over, which he said was in line with the Second Republic’s devolution agenda and would enhance improved service delivery for residents in the town.
Facilitating higher quality water and sanitation services is a top priority as the country moves towards attaining an upper-middle income status by 2030.
Clr Moyo said the municipality is set to roll out various income generating projects which will help in boosting revenue collection to ensure improved service delivery. He said in order for the country to attain Vision 2030, each district has to contribute its fair share and he will ensure that Gwanda Town plays its part, adding that he would engage as many stakeholders as possible to collectively work towards developing the mining town.
“One of the key drivers of service delivery is revenue. In order for us as council to render the desired services to the people such as maintaining roads, street lighting, reliable water supply, refuse collection and disposal, among other key areas, we need revenue. Low revenue collection has remained a huge concern for council as it is negatively affecting service delivery.
“The municipality has a farm and we now want to put it to good use by introducing various income-generating projects such as cattle fattening which can become a major source of revenue. The farm hasn’t been utilised for several years. As council, we will also engage big mining firms so that we can acquire a claim which can be a source of revenue as well. We will first write a letter to the Ministry of Local Government seeking permission to venture into mining,” he said.
Clr Moyo said the municipality will also engage various stakeholders to partner council in establishing income-generating projects.
He said development of the mining town is also hinged on the hospitality industry. Clr Moyo said Gwanda is located along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway, which could be a competitive advantage.
He said motorists travelling along the highway mainly stop over in Gwanda for refreshments. Clr Moyo said the hospitality industry needs to be developed to appeal to travellers.
“Our lodges and hotels need to be developed in order to compete with those in big cities. We also need to have recreational parks and leisure spots which can attract travellers. That way, we will have more travellers not only stopping over in our town but putting up here and that will bring in more business,” he said.
Gwanda is the provincial capital of Matabeleland South province and has over the years grown in leaps and bounds with potential to become a sought-after business hub.
Clr Moyo said there was need to grow the town’s manufacturing sector. He said one of his target areas for the next five years is to develop the town’s industrial area. He said this would go a long way in boosting the town’s economy.
Clr Moyo said development of the manufacturing industry will help create employment which will in turn improve the standards of living of residents in the mining town.
He said the manufacturing industry can also augment irrigation schemes in rural Gwanda, especially those that had been rehabilitated by Government.
“We can’t have people travelling as far as Bulawayo to get raw materials when we can have our own manufacturing plants here. We need to have state-of-the-art malls in the town where people can get all the products they need without hassle. We can supply all building materials,” he said.
Clr Moyo said he will work on luring and identifying potential investors. He said the town has players in the mining and farming sectors who have the potential to invest in the town’s industrial growth.
Clr Moyo said the target was to get the buy-in of such players and then attract more investors from other provinces and from outside the country. He said this development would help create employment and improve livelihoods.
“We have potential investors locally and the strategy is to engage them so that they take up industrial space. Once there is significant industrial development in the town then we will be able to attract more investors. Even Small to Medium Enterprises can come together and form consortiums and take up industrial space where they can operate at large scale.
“As a town, the business activity that we mainly have is vending and small businesses. We need to have more of large scale businesses so as to grow our economy as a town and so that people get jobs and the standard of living improves,” he said.
Gwanda Town sits on the greenstone gold belt which hosts notable gold producers which include Blanket, Vubachikwe, Jersey, Freda and Horn mines. Blanket Mine is one of the top producers nationally.
Also in Gwanda District is Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), a prime producer of cement which operates a clinker plant in Colleen Bawn.
Mineral output is a source of forex and mining is a source of employment. Opportunities in the town due to mining include infrastructural development, mining service support industries, downstream industries and general support of the growth of Gwanda.
Clr Moyo said there is need to spruce up the image of the town in order to attract investors. He said this can be possible through construction of modern buildings and maintaining cleanliness in the town. – @DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu