MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU—City of Gweru has invested more than US$1,5 million in plant and equipment as it moves to reduce reliance on hired machinery and improve service delivery amid growing pressure to upgrade ageing infrastructure.
The local authority on Monday commissioned two motor graders, an excavator, a 20 000-litre water bowser and other heavy equipment acquired during the first quarter of 2026 using internally generated revenue.
The commissioning was presided over by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube.
Mayor Cllr Martin Chivhoko said the investment marked a strategic shift towards self-reliance, enabling council to direct more resources to road rehabilitation, water provision and other essential services.
“We are not just commissioning machinery; we are commissioning hope, progress and a brighter future for every resident of Gweru,” Chivhoko said.
He said the new equipment would improve road maintenance, strengthen water delivery systems and enhance council’s operational efficiency while lowering the cost of outsourcing key services.
The commissioning coincided with a tour of the resurfaced Sixth Street and the renovated Town House, projects the local authority cited as evidence of progress under its Smart City drive.
However, council officials acknowledged that significant funding gaps remain.
Town clerk Livingston Churu said projects worth more than US$2,5 million were awaiting funding, including the procurement of refuse compactors, skip bins and equipment for sewer and water treatment plants.
He appealed to residents and businesses to settle outstanding rates, saying internally generated revenue had financed the newly commissioned equipment.
“The equipment commissioned today was procured through internally generated funds. To unlock the remaining projects, we need residents and businesses to clear outstanding debts,” Churu said.
He described rate payments as the lifeblood of council operations, saying they were essential for sustaining service delivery and funding future infrastructure projects.
Despite challenging economic conditions, the local authority had rehabilitated roads, traffic signals and public lighting, improved water supply, strengthened emergency services, modernised health facilities and expanded Smart City initiatives during the first quarter of the year.
The investment comes as Gweru seeks to restore public confidence after years of complaints over deteriorating roads and erratic service delivery, with council betting that acquiring its own machinery will improve efficiency and accelerate infrastructure rehabilitation.
