Masvingo City Councillors at odds over ‘uneven development’

By Staff ReporterMASVINGO – A debate ensued during Masvingo City full council meeting after two councillors from the city’s northern suburbs accused the local authority of concentrating development in highdensity areas across Mucheke River, while their wards where ‘most revenue is generated continue to be neglected’.Ward 9 Councillor Bernad Muchokwa and Ward 10 Councillor Sengerayi Manyanga, whose wards cover Masvingo town, Rhodene, Zimre Park, Eastvale, Eastlea and 4 Brigade Headquarters, expressed frustration over what they described as a deliberate bias in the allocation of projects.Muchokwa listed several projects that had been completed or were underway in the highdensity suburbs of Mucheke, Rujeko and Runyararo, while nothing similar had been done on the northern side of the city.“We constructed Rujeko Secondary School, a swimming pool in Runyararo, maternity wings at Runyararo and Runyararo North West Clinics, and now council is proposing to build a school in Runyararo and another in Runyararo West. But this side of town, where most revenue comes from, is getting nothing,” said Muchokwa.He said his ward had appealed for a fruit and vegetable market and for public toilets, but no action had been taken.“We appealed for a fruit and vegetable market, but up to now nothing has been done. We are appealing for toilets, but we aren’t getting them. Yet the swimming pool and maternity wings across Mucheke did not take time. Why is development concentrated across Mucheke?” he asked.Councillor Manyanga added that the two wards had only three government schools, Victoria High, Victoria Junior and Hellen McGie Primary, which are being flooded by learners from across Mucheke who prefer those institutions over schools in their own areas.“We only have three schools, and we appealed to council to construct another school that meets the standards of the three already existing because we have seen that from Rank (Ward 1) to Ward 8, all the learners prefer to come to this side. We even appealed for council to allow Hellen McGie to extend and build uprising buildings to meet the demand,” said Manyanga.Responding sharply, Masvingo City Mayor Aleck Tabe told the two councillors that they should not complain because their side received expensive services that highdensity residents can only dream of.“You shouldn’t be complaining. I don’t want to say much, but I am sure you are aware that in Rhodene there are no potholes. If roads are damaged, we repair them, and tarring is expensive. But in Mucheke we use gravel to repair damaged roads. So don’t complain,” said Tabe.Deputy Mayor Daniel Mberikunashe weighed in, arguing that comparing the two sides of the city was unfair and that the northern suburbs could simply lobby for a school through proper channels if land is available.“Some other things cannot be compared. Let them apply that we have 200 or 300 square metre stands in Rhodene and see if it’s possible. So we should avoid comparing because there is a reason why the planners said this side should be for people of this level. There are a lot of people in Mucheke, and a lot of money comes from there,” said Mberikunashe.He said there were no dusty roads in Rhodene and threatened that if they continue comparing then councilors from the southern side would resolve to start developing that side until it matches the standards of ward 9 and 10. “If you want a school, just lobby through the planning department so that if there is space, you get one. If we talk of roads, they drive from Rhodene up to here with clean cars, no dust. But look at us from Mucheke. Even if we look at those who owe council money, it’s this side. So we shouldn’t compare, because we will then say all development should go to Mucheke until we have roads like Rhodene.”