By TellZim Reporter
Masvingo’s Victoria Ranch suburb residents recently submitted a petition to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, calling for an urgent investigation and intervention into the deplorable state of social service delivery in the area.
The petition addressed to the Clerk of Parliament and signed by concerned residents, highlights the settlement’s dire need for basic services, including water, sanitation, roads, and public services.
They said Victoria Ranch, a peri-urban settlement with over 15,000 households, was being neglected by authorities despite its urban characteristics.
“The area lacks essential infrastructure, including piped water, sewer systems, and refuse collection services. Residents rely on boreholes, which are not regularly tested, and eco-san toilets, which have become unsanitary and dysfunctional,” reads part of the petition.
The petitioners argued that the current governance arrangement, under the Masvingo Rural District Council (MRDC), was incoherent and unsustainable. They claimed that MRDC lacked technical capacity and fiscal mandate to deliver urban services, while the Masvingo City Council (MCC) provides partial support but lacks jurisdiction to plan or budget for the area.
The petition cites the Constitution of Zimbabwe, specifically Section 13(2), which obliges the State to involve people in development plans, and Section 28, which mandates the State to ensure access to shelter and basic services. The petitioners also reference the Zimbabwe Land Commission’s recommendations, which include strengthening institutional coordination, regularizing settlements, and enforcing land servicing obligations on private developers.
The petitioners called for Parliament to establish a portfolio committee inquiry into the developmental status of Victoria Ranch, summon responsible authorities to account for their inaction, and enforce the implementation of the Zimbabwe Land Commission’s recommendations.
They also sought for legislative action to compel service delivery in peri-urban settlements and to redefine governance for such areas.
“The current conditions in Victoria Ranch pose serious public health risks, educational crisis, and environmental degradation. Immediate action is not only necessary but is a moral and legal imperative,” reads part of the petition.
The petitioners urged Parliament to treat the matter with urgency and compassion, given the humanitarian and constitutional concerns raised and establish a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Inquiry into the developmental status of Victoria Ranch and similar settlements nationwide and mandate immediate interventions to provide clean water, sanitation, refuse collection, borehole testing, refuse removal, and road grading.
They said situation in Victoria Ranch highlights the need for Parliament to exercise its legislative, oversight, and representative roles to address the challenges faced by the residents.
“We are tired of being neglected by authorities. We need basic services, including water, sanitation, and roads. We urge Parliament to intervene and ensure that our rights are upheld,” reads another part.
The petition said residents were concerned that the lack of basic services in Victoria Ranch was not only a humanitarian issue but also a constitutional one.
They argued that the State has a duty to ensure that all citizens have access to basic services, including water, sanitation, and healthcare. They also expressed frustration with the current governance arrangement, which they claim was ineffective and unsustainable. They argue that the MRDC and MCC need to work together to provide adequate services to the residents of Victoria Ranch.
They urge Parliament to establish a portfolio committee inquiry into the developmental status of Victoria Ranch and to summon responsible authorities to account for their inaction and legislative action to compel service delivery in peri-urban settlements and to redefine governance for such areas. They argue that this will ensure that all citizens have access to basic services and that the government is held accountable for its actions.
