Emmanuel Chitsika
Masvingo urban councillors have said City Council’s public works and planning department is failing the local authority judging by the manner they handle works in particular the drainage systems in and around the city.
Ward 7 Cllr Richard Musekiwa said the committee seems to neglect its duties which has led to residents making noise in the commonage especially this rainy season as water spills into their properties.
“Residents are not happy at all in the commonage. I challenge the public works committee to put in place a plan that would address the matter. You are failing this city as a committee.
“Right now the rainy season is underway but the chairperson of the public works committee says they would fix the issues next year, where will the running water go during this season if not into residents’ properties.
“The situation is still normal as Masvingo has not yet received more rainfall that can disturb us from fixing such small issues. What if we are to receive more rains, a crisis is looming for the city,” said Musekiwa.
Zanu PF ward 10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga who chairs the public works committee defended the department saying they have shelved the works for the year 2023 as they do not have suitable equipment to do their work during this current season.
“We have set our routine maintenance work for the year 2023 as we cannot work during this rainy season. Next year after this wet spell, we will resume works and update council on our progress. Right now as Masvingo city, we lack enough resources and equipment to do so. The people we contract to do the work are cheaper contractors who do not have equipment that allows them to work during such a period.
“We do not have the necessary equipment to help us work during this rainy season like those contractors working on Harare- Beitbridge highway who have suitable equipment that enables them to work during the rainy season.
“As a department, we are facing challenges of say siltation as a result of sand being carried by running water from areas planted by stream bank farmers and that hinders progress,” Manyanga said.
Musekiwa’s sentiments were echoed by Ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe who said it was meaningless to let the drainages that were recently opened at residents and rate payers’ expenses close again and re-open them next year before the process of lining.
“The public works committee is not doing any justice towards this matter considering the time this issue was raised. We have discussed this matter on a number of occasions but surprisingly no action has been taken.
“The issue of fixing drainages started long back before the rainy season but virtually nothing was done to that effect. I don’t think these rains may hinder paving of these drainages. The only challenge we have as council is that we want to do ‘double dipping’. We took finances from rate payers’ money and paid the contract workers who opened the drainages and we are facing a situation where would pay them again for the same job instead of finishing those works once and for all. That way we can save resources,” said Tabe.
Mayor Collen Maboke also urged the committee to address the issue as stagnant water presents a health hazard to residents.
