MILLICENT HUNGWE
City of Masvingo Mayor Cllr Aleck Tabe has outlined the city’s growth and development vision spanning to December 2026 during a press conference to update stakeholders on state of affairs at the town house.
The press conference was held at the Civic Center Hall on Thursday last week where the Mayor briefed stakeholders on the current state of the city, key developments, and strategic direction on service delivery.
The mayor highlighted achievements in improving water supply and sanitation, including the refurbishment of Bushmead Water Works and expansion of the sewer reticulation system.
He noted that solid waste management remains a priority, with enhanced collection schedules and awareness campaigns.
According to Mayor Tabe, “the city’s sewage reticulation network is fair, with an average of 360 sewer blockages attended to every month.
“About 95 percent of reported sewer-related complaints are addressed within 24 hours.”
The council has attended to sections that used to experience perennial sewage spillages in KMP, Runyararo West, and Rhodene.
The water supply situation has greatly improved following the commissioning of the Mutirikwi Hydro Power Plant, resulting in consistent treatment and pumping of water to reservoirs.
“On average, 23 megalitres per day are supplied to the city, with all properties receiving water for an average of 9 hours daily,” he added.
Mayor Tabe highlighted that the city’s treated effluent is currently in the RED category of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) but forecast an upgrade to the GREEN category once repairs of plant equipment are completed.
The council is also constructing a swimming pool in Runyararo suburb, with a budget of $250,000, and expects to open it in October 2025.
Additionally, the council has completed a maternity wing at North-West Medical Centre, which is now operational and has the capacity to admit 10 mothers, it serves Runyararo suburb and other peri-urban settlements.
Plans are underway to construct maternity wings at Runyararo Clinic and Rujeko Clinic in the future, the project will be completed in 2025 at a cost of US$50,000, excluding the equipment.
The council is also upgrading Mucheke Stadium to host Premier League games, with potential partners expressing interest in the project.
Mayor Tabe expressed his delight in being part of the stadium’s refurbishment, citing his love for soccer.
