Ian Kadziya
Gweru
City Council (GCC) and Vungu Rural District Council (VRDC) have moved a step towards
a stronger partnership by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) which will
see sitting of joint committees to manage intertwined interests and challenges.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Gweru District Development Coordinator (DDC) Jorum Chimedza said
the two authorities ought to work closely together for the mutual benefit of
their residents.
“Many
of you who are here; you are chosen by people to represent residents on matters
of governance. Today is a day necessitated by certain sections of both the
Urban Councils Act and Rural Councils Act. We recall that some time towards the
end of 2017, the issue of dysfunctional settlements affected us, and those
needed clear administrative structures to run.
“In
2018, we were directed by the Minister of Local Government that these two local
authorities should come together to form joint committees regarding issues of
boundaries that often needed government to decide,” said Gumbo.
He
also said it was good that the two local authorities had found each other; with
residents now able to report issues regarding their roads, water and sewerages
to either of the two sides.
City
of Gweru Mayor Josiah Makombe said the signing ceremony was going to strengthen
operations between the two authorities.
“As
a team, we managed to convince each other to sit down together with our counterpart
Vungu Rural District Council (VRDC) so that we come up with a joint committee.
The journey was long as we all know any two parties that come up with an
agreement are bound to encounter some disagreements along the way.
“I
am therefore happy today that we have this agreement. We thank the DDC for witnessing
our coming together. Beginning now, we will walk together as sister institutions,
making sure that we provide quality services to our people,” added Makombe
Vungu Rural District Council CEO, Morgan Zimvu
said the signing ceremony was for the betterment of service delivery for residents.
“This
is not only good for us as authorities. Rather, it it is also good for
residents living in the urban and rural areas we should respect this day because
it marks the end of all our problems as we now operate as a team,” said Zimvu.
