MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The city of progress was named the best service provider in the Parastatal Service Providers category at the 2026 Midlands Show, with judges citing its display’s alignment with the exhibition’s theme of value addition and competitiveness.
The 2026 Midlands Show, held under the theme “Value Addition: The Key to Competitiveness,” brought together government departments, parastatals and local authorities to showcase their services and initiatives.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the display focused on how the local authority was adding value through its operations and initiatives supporting economic activity.
“Our display was centred on demonstrating how council is adding value through service delivery, infrastructure development and initiatives that support economic activity in the city. We believe this alignment with the theme contributed to us being awarded first position,”
Chingwaramusee said.
Shangani Sub-Catchment and Mberengwa Rural District Council finished second and third respectively in the category.
The award comes as Gweru City Council invests in equipment to improve its capacity to deliver services.
The local authority has commissioned machinery worth about US$1.5 million this year, including graders, an excavator, water bowsers, compactors, tractors and fire engines.
The equipment is being used for road maintenance, waste management and emergency services.
In other categories, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services won the Government Departments category, ahead of the Department of Immigration and Ministry of Health.
The Environmental Management Agency won the Authorities category, followed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services provincial head Tapiwa Sisimayi attributed his ministry’s success to teamwork after it finished second last year.
“I would like to credit each and every member of the team for this feat, which we missed by a whisker last year after we came second. This was possible because of teamwork,” he said.
Sisimayi said the ministry had made effective use of available resources to put together its exhibition.
