MILLICENT HUNGWE
Masvingo city council has attributed the city’s poor service delivery to a rapid increase in rural-urban migration, leading to a sharp population growth according to officials.
Ward 9 Councilor Bernard Muchokwa said “the surge in population has affected service delivery, particularly sewer management, as the existing infrastructure can no longer handle the increased sewage, resulting in frequent pipe bursts”.
This was said during a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists sponsored press club discussion focusing on service delivery in the ancient city recently.
The city’s population has grown from around 70 000 in 2010 to over 120 000 in 2023.
However, Ward 10 Councilor Sengerai Manyanga urged the council to include more intellectuals in its committees to receive suitable advice on such matters.
He added that a change in mindset could lead to improved town development.
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said council should not attribute service delivery challenges solely to population growth but should also enhance its workmanship.
He said the city needs to invest in “long-term projections to address shortages and replacing outdated sewer pipes with larger ones.”
Ward 5 resident Mercy Godora advised the local authority to think outside the box and improve its revenue streams by embarking on income-generating projects.
She accused the council of a lack of seriousness, highlighting the unfinished Mucheke trans-sewer project, which has been stalled for 15 years despite multiple contractors being hired and funding being secured from institutions such as the cash rich NSSA.
