By TellZim News
MASVINGO – Masvingo Province’s seven District Development Coordinators recently gathered at a stakeholder meeting at Masvingo Poly on March 3 to present performance reports on development projects in their respective areas, giving a rare glimpse into progress across the province’s districts.
The presentations covered infrastructure development, water and sanitation, health facilities, education, irrigation schemes, and land administration among other indicators. TellZim News analysed the reports to rank districts based on project implementation, tangible outcomes, and evidence of development momentum.
1. Gutu District – Leading with Completed Projects
From the presentations which may be different from what is obtaining on the ground, Gutu District represented by the Disctrict Development Coodinator (DDC) Chiedza Tafirei, emerged as the best performing district, demonstrating a strong track record of completing projects rather than merely initiating them.
The district celebrated the completion and commissioning of the Sotisosi solar project, a significant milestone in rural electrification. At Lowland Irrigation Scheme, ploughing has been completed with 10 plots already under cultivation, showing tangible progress in food security initiatives.
In health delivery, Gutu successfully upgraded a rural facility to a clinic, with the application for upgrading submitted and medication now being provided. The community is already benefiting from improved health services, with the facility now admitting patients.
Gutu also showed forward thinking by providing a building for a proposed rehabilitation center, although the DDC said funds were still required to complete the project. On road infrastructure, routine maintenance covering 40 kilometres has been completed on key routes including Gutu-Buhera, Zimuto-Chatsworths, and Gutu-Kurai roads, despite funding challenges stalling further progress.
Gutu’s strength lies in completing what it starts, with the Sotisosi solar project and clinic upgrade standing as tangible evidence of effective project management.
2. Chiredzi District
From Chiredzi’s presentation done by DDC Lovemore Chisema, the district demonstrated a wide range of development initiatives, showing engagement across multiple sectors from education to irrigation and disaster response.
The district responded swiftly to an emergency when Chikombedzi Hospital’s outpatients ward roof was blown away by a storm. With assistance from Gonarezhou, the roof has been fixed, although ceiling and paint work remains.
Chiredzi district said it was addressing water needs across several wards. Ward 5’s request for safe drinking water through boreholes had been submitted, but drilling had not commenced due to the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) rig that was reportedly broken down, requiring alternative partnerships.
In infrastructure, the Chilonga Bridge Causeway rehabilitation in Ward 7, it was reported that a contractor was identified, with work awaiting water levels to subside. Ward 27 had made significant progress on business sites, with a layout plan adopted, stands pegged, and construction already in progress by beneficiaries.
However, the district faces challenges in education and health facility establishment. Requests for a secondary school in Ward 12, a secondary school in Ward 1, and a clinic in Ward 1 remain at motion stage, awaiting council resolutions to proceed. The Masapase Irrigation Scheme also was reported to be at planning stage.
Chiredzi’s comprehensive approach across multiple sectors places it second, though the gap between planning and implementation needs addressing.
Masvingo District
Masvingo District led by DDC Joyce Chikugu, showed impressive progress in infrastructure development, particularly under the presidential borehole scheme where 56 boreholes had been drilled. Five have been equipped and were expected to be solarized, while China Aid donated 15 bush pumps. Five more boreholes are planned, with Chatikobo and Murinye Clinic now operating with boreholes.
The district made significant strides in road maintenance, with 571 kilometres graded in total where 258 kilometres were done by Masvingo RDC and 313 kilometres by RIDA. Low-lying bridges have received attention, with Matizi Bridge completed in 2025 and Nyaukaka bridge at 54 percent completion. Mutirikwi bridge designs were reported to have been completed by the Ministry of Transport.
On environmental issues, the district addressed land degradation from mining activities through backfilling and rehabilitation. In the Chomugwaku area, where gravel mining occurred, 300 trees were planted as part of land preservation efforts.
Interventions on illegal settlers have been carried out in Wards 9, 5, and 7. The Zvinyaningwe Irrigation Scheme, covering 46 hectares, was completed.
4. Bikita District
In his report, Bikita DDC Bernad Hadzirabwi, indicated that the district is making strategic investments in water infrastructure, with upgrading of the Rozva water plant through resending of filters set to increase volumes from 60 cubic metres to 100 cubic metres per hour. Although major activities are on hold due to resource unavailability, water coverage in residential areas was improved from 60 percent to 85 percent. Resuscitation of two boreholes as backup is in progress.
The district is addressing a major health gap, as Bikita is the only district in the province without a government district hospital. Council was paying for a topographical survey which should be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Electrification and solarisation of boosters is in progress in Pamushana Ward 11 and Chirombe Ward 20, with plans to establish another booster in Mukore Ward 8. Proposals for outstanding areas are ongoing.
Road rehabilitation on the Makuvaza-Chiredzi road was budgeted for this year, with tendering in progress. The Negwari Irrigation scheme remains at proposed site stage with no progress, awaiting funds.
In a significant policy intervention, Bikita Minerals was reported to be following a Ministry of Mines policy of 80 percent local employment and 20 percent outsiders, with employment ongoing. Title deeds for small-scale farmers in Wards 29 and 11 are being addressed by council and Lands.
Human-wildlife conflict in the Save Valley Conservancy was being attended to promptly, with ongoing community awareness campaigns.
Bikita’s strategic focus on water and local employment policies shows thoughtful development planning.
5. Mwenezi District
According to the DDC Isaac Mutambara’s presentation, Mwenezi is focused on establishing foundational infrastructure in resettlement areas. Clinics have been pegged at Tshobelele, Mujuneri, and Mayezi, now awaiting construction to begin. This addresses a critical gap, as resettlement areas currently have no clinics.
The district has identified 18 war veterans for decent burial, awaiting funding from central government. All seven chiefs in the district have been allocated stands at the growth point, strengthening traditional leadership presence.
Petronella Clinic has reached 98 percent completion, a significant milestone for health service delivery in the area.
Mwenezi’s progress is steady but foundational, with many projects still awaiting construction or funding.
6. Chivi District
In his presentation, Chivi DDC Innocent Matingwina said Chivi residents are already benefiting from Muzhwi and Tugwi Mukosi dams, with Bwanya Irrigation Scheme serving 300 beneficiaries, Gororo Irrigation Scheme with 72 beneficiaries, and Nyahombe Irrigation Scheme with 78 beneficiaries. Fishing cooperatives are set to operate soon, and electric power generation from the dam is planned.
However, the district struggles with poor road networks. Road construction is ongoing with only 2 kilometres of regravelling completed, and maintenance will only resume after the rain season.
On land issues for war veterans and widows, only 28 percent of the layout plan has been written to the provincial head for war veterans, indicating slow progress.
Chivi shows potential through dam-based development but implementation on the ground remains limited.
7. Zaka District
Zaka ranks lowest due to internal governance issues that threaten development momentum. Instead of talking about talking about developmental progress, the DDC Nyaradzo Tongofa centred his presentation on how she addressed leadership divisions and fights in the district. Discord within the local authority has necessitated tripartite meetings between the CEO, council chair, and District Development Coordinator every two weeks to solve problems.
Positively, capacity building programmes for councillors have been conducted, with all councillors trained to understand their positions and the executive trained on their roles. A team-building exercise is planned for the second quarter.
On environmental issues, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is conducting trainings to help communities set up standard fire guards to address veld fire problems.
While Zaka is taking steps to address internal conflicts and build capacity, governance challenges suggest development implementation may be hindered until these issues are fully resolved.
