By Virginia Njovo
Bikita residents have expressed frustration over the lack of critical policies from the Bikita Rural District Council (RDC), highlighting gaps in housing, disability inclusion, and vehicle retention schemes, which they said undermine accountability and hinder inclusive development.
Speaking at a recent dialogue meeting organized by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) at Chevron Hotel, Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) Coordinator Bright Maduyu criticized council for failing to implement a formal housing policy.
“We are deeply concerned by the council’s failure to formulate a formal housing policy which has led to unregulated and opaque allocation of stands, a lack of affordable housing mechanisms for low-income earners, poor prioritization in land servicing, and vulnerability to land corruption as well as illegal settlements,” said Madhuyu.
Madhuyu raised alarm over the absence of a disability inclusion policy in the council, which he said contributed to the continued marginalization of people with disabilities.
“Bikita RDC has failed to adopt a Disability Policy, contributing to the ongoing exclusion and discrimination of persons with disabilities (PWDs), as there is a lack of accessible infrastructure and services, absence of representation in decision-making, and no targeted development programmes for PWDs. This neglects Section 22 and Section 83 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD),” said Maduyu added.
Maduyu also pointed to concerns about a potentially fraudulent vehicle retention scheme at Bikita RDC, which he claimed was draining residents’ pockets.
“We have received credible reports of a non-transparent and potentially fraudulent scheme involving the sale and retention of council vehicles by senior management. Concerns include a lack of adherence to proper tendering or disposal procedures, the sale of vehicles to officials at undervalued prices, and non-compliance with public finance management and procurement laws,” Maduyu revealed.
To address these issues, Maduyu called for the adoption of a transparent housing policy, one that aligns with the Urban Councils Act and ensures equitable access, particularly for youth and low-income earners.
“We call for the drafting of a transparent local housing policy, provisions for equitable access, especially for youth and low-income earners, and strong planning and environmental safeguards,” said Maduyu.
In response to the growing concerns, residents also demanded that the local authority conduct a forensic audit of vehicle disposals over the past five years.
“We are demanding for an independent forensic audit of all vehicle disposals for the past five years, the immediate suspension of all vehicle disposals, and the adoption of a transparent council-approved asset disposal policy aligned with national standards,” said Maduyu.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News on the issues raised by residents, Bikita RDC acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arnold Mtuke said the residents had also raised their concerns directly to council so they would respond to them first before commenting to the media.
“We acknowledge receipt of BIRRA’s concerns and will address them directly. We will communicate developments to BIRRA and provide further clarification needed,” said Mtuke.
Service delivery concerns were also raised by residents of Masvingo Rural District Council, who complained about sewer bursts and poor refuse collection.
Calisto Rukwanda, a resident, highlighted some of the issues affecting the district saying Service delivery in Masvingo RDC was problematic, especially in Nemamwa Growth Point where sewer bursts were common.
He said roads were not being maintained in rural areas, especially the road connecting the Growth Point to Charumbira, which was damaged by heavy rains last season.
Despite these challenges, Masvingo RDC is one of the few rural councils set to receive devolution funds in 2026.
Addressing these concerns, Kudzai Tarirai, Deputy Director for Economic Analysis in the Office of the Minister of State for Devolution and Provincial Affairs, urged residents to engage directly with their local authorities to resolve these issues.
“As we are here for the decentralization of powers, I encourage you to address these matters with your local authorities. I also encourage you to attend budget consultation meetings. Many of these issues are budgeted for, and if you don’t attend and voice your concerns, you won’t see the changes you seek,” Tarirai said.
