Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Gwanda Municipality has acquired new earth-moving equipment worth US$425 000 as part of its efforts to enhance service delivery, in line with President Mnangagwa’s “A Call to Action, No Compromise to Service Delivery” initiative.
The consignment, which includes a motorised grader, roller compactor, and a 20-tonne tipper truck, was officially commissioned by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe.
Funded through a combination of council and Zinara resources, the new equipment will enable the local authority to fulfil key service delivery obligations such as stand servicing, road maintenance, and the relocation of the town’s dumpsite, which was condemned over a decade ago.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Garwe said the development aligns with Vision 2030, which aims to establish an upper-middle-income society.
“Procurement of this equipment is speaking to the President’s clarion call for uncompromised service delivery. As councils, we are in the driving seat as champions for ensuring that minimum service standards delivery comes to life.
“Procuring this equipment also speaks to Vision 2030. President Mnangagwa has called for improved service delivery in towns through improved roads, improved sewer and water reticulation, as well as improved refuse collection. Our roads in towns are in a poor state and that is why Government, through Zinara, is releasing funds to local authorities to purchase earth-moving equipment such as tippers, graders, rollers, among others,” he said.
Minister Garwe encouraged local authorities to utilise the Nhimbe/Ilima programme, which allows councils to collaborate in improving the road network within their provinces. Under this model, councils can pool their equipment and work collectively to enhance infrastructure across districts and towns.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, said the acquisition of the equipment comes at a critical time as the province prepares to launch the Ilima/Nhimbe programme.
“We have noted with concern the high costs associated with hiring equipment for road construction and maintenance. In some instances, contractors have short-changed our councils by delivering substandard work, which diminishes the benefits to our communities.
“Our provincial inventory for major road equipment shows that we have 11 graders, of which four are in good condition and seven require attention, nine tipper trucks, with three in good condition and six needing repairs.
Notably, we did not have any rollers at all. The new equipment will bring much-needed relief not only to the council but to the province and significantly enhance our road infrastructure development efforts,” he said.
During a briefing meeting, Gwanda Town Engineer Phakamile Ndebele revealed that Zinara contributed US$232 841 while the council provided US$192 158 towards the purchase. He said the acquisition of the earth-moving machinery reflects the council’s commitment to delivering quality services to the community.
“As part of our efforts as council to purchase earth-moving equipment, we have managed to acquire a grader, roller compactor and tipper, all valued at US$425 000. This new machinery will help us to improve on service delivery.
The Presidential Call to Action blueprint mandates all local authorities to comply with clearly defined performance standards.
“These cover essential services such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, roads and street lighting, public health, environmental management and housing. We believe that with the newly acquired equipment we will achieve the minimum service delivery standards as required by the blueprint,” he said.
Engineer Ndebele noted that having a grader and tipper will now enable the council to service residential stands, making them more affordable and accessible to low-income earners. Currently, stand servicing is carried out by private land developers, which often results in higher costs for residents. He added that the local authority will now be able to respond more promptly to sewer and water pipe bursts, having previously relied on manual labour.
The new equipment will also allow the municipality to conduct routine road maintenance and upgrade the road network. Previously, the council had been dependent on hired graders, which made it difficult to ensure consistent and effective road upkeep. —@DubeMatutu
