Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
Residents of Dzivaresekwa Ward 40 have elected an interim Ward Development Committee following growing concerns that leadership disputes and divisions within existing structures have delayed development and negatively affected service delivery across the ward.
The committee was elected during a well-attended feedback meeting held at Glaudina Primary School, where residents from Glaudina Phases 1 and 2, Vision Park, Nehanda, UZ, Area 77, Nenyasha and Marwede gathered to engage City of Harare officials on pressing service delivery concerns.
The meeting was attended by City of Harare Harare Region 4 Area Manager Mrs Marian Mverechena, Ward 40 Councillor Knowledge Bote, Ward 39 Councillor Stephen Dhliwayo, council officials and scores of residents.
Residents said years of disagreements among development structures had slowed progress, with many calling for an apolitical committee focused solely on development rather than leadership contests.
Several residents expressed frustration over what they described as the failure of an existing consortium of housing cooperatives to drive infrastructure development, alleging that internal disputes had stalled road construction and delayed the attainment of compliance certificates required for full municipal services.
One resident said the ward comprised more than 20 housing cooperatives and argued that each cooperative should be represented in the new development committee to ensure inclusivity and transparency.
Others claimed that despite the consortium comprising about 34 companies, many residents in Phase Two and other developing areas had remained without certificates of compliance since 2006, affecting access to key council services, including refuse collection.
Road rehabilitation emerged as one of the most pressing concerns, with residents saying deteriorating roads and poor drainage continued to hamper development across Glaudina Phases 1 to 4.
The meeting also discussed water supply, sewer reticulation, waste management, billing, public lighting and the rollout of prepaid water meters.
Council officials explained that the absence of full compliance in some developments continued to affect the provision of certain municipal services and urged residents to work together towards regularising developments.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Mverechena encouraged residents to elect leaders committed to development and service delivery.
“Development committees must exist to advance the interests of residents by engaging Council on service delivery issues. Those entrusted with leadership should prioritise development over personal interests and work collectively for the benefit of their communities,” she said.
Ward 40 Councillor Knowledge Bote welcomed the successful formation of the interim committee, describing it as a significant milestone towards strengthening community participation in local governance.
“Today’s meeting marks an important turning point for Ward 40. For a long time, disagreements over leadership have distracted us from the real issues affecting residents. We have now established a development committee that represents different communities across the ward, and I am confident it will provide a stronger platform for engaging Council and driving development,” he said.
Cllr Bote said the committee would work closely with residents and Council to address long-standing infrastructure challenges.
“Our priority is not politics but development. As councillor, I represent every resident of Ward 40 regardless of background. Together we will pursue practical solutions to improve roads, water supply, sewer services, refuse collection and other essential services that our communities deserve,” he said.
He also highlighted the shortage of educational facilities within the ward.
“Ward 40 has grown significantly, yet we still do not have a single secondary school. We currently rely on only two primary schools, Yemurai Primary School and Glaudina Primary School, which is still under construction. Expanding educational infrastructure must remain one of our priorities as the population continues to increase,” said Cllr Bote.
The councillor further urged residents to comply with municipal by-laws governing construction and land development, warning that illegal structures erected on water, sewer and drainage servitudes complicated infrastructure installation and delayed compliance processes.
An interim Ward Development Committee was elected during the meeting, with Cllr Bote assuming the chairmanship and Mr Chenali Samu elected vice-chairperson. Representatives from the ward’s various residential areas and housing cooperatives were also selected to strengthen community participation in development planning.
Ward 39 Councillor Stephen Dhliwayo, who attended the meeting in solidarity with Ward 40, commended residents for embracing dialogue and participatory governance, saying strong community structures were essential for improving service delivery and accelerating development.
The meeting concluded with residents reaffirming their commitment to working with the City of Harare to address infrastructure deficits and promote orderly development across Ward 40.
