Zvipani set to get urban status

GOVERNMENT is planning to turn Zvipani Business Centre in Hurungwe West into an urban centre, an official has said.

The development would see villagers in remote areas like Sanyati Bridge, Deve, and Chembizi accessing services such as banks and shops within the constituency.

Zvipani is located 40km west of Magunje, along the Magunje-Binga Highway and is the economic centre of Hurungwe West Constituency.

In an interview recently, Hurungwe Rural District Council chief executive Mr Joram Misheck Moyo said they had recommended to Government to upgrade Zvipani to an urban centre.

“Zvipani emerged as the most promising rural business centre in the district compared to other rural centres with potential for expansion.

“Upgrading of Zvipani will see land at the business centre bearing title deeds, a development that will undoubtedly attract several investors and improve economic activity in Hurungwe West.

“Both residential and business stand owners will now have title deeds to their properties, which will also be connected to water, electricity and roads among others.”

He, however, indicated that acquiring town or municipal status would depend on the rate at which Zvipani grows.

“Who knows, it may acquire town or municipal status ahead of centres like Magunje Growth Point. It depends on the rate at which it will grow,” he said.

Mr Moyo said Hurungwe RDC has also upgraded water reticulation at Zvipani through a solar-powered piped water project installed this year.

“The water project was completed in our 100 days targets that expired on April 10 this year,” he said.

The water will also be availed to businesses and nearby villages.

“On the part of villagers, the service will be free, while business owners will have to pay for the service to meet different costs involved in availing the water to them.

“Under the second phase of the piped-water project, we want to ensure that communities surrounding the business centre have access to clean water using the same model that we have used at Birimahwe Primary School,” he said.

At least 250 households in villages under Chief Chanetsa will benefit from the project.

Villagers also welcomed the development.

Mr Albert Muchini from Chiruma Village in the Deve area under Chief Dandawa said conferring urban status on Zvipani was long overdue.

“This would bring relief to most villagers in the area who endured travelling more than 100km for banking and retail services in Karoi or Magunje.

“The development would assist even people under Chief Sampakaruma in Kariba District, who travel to Gokwe in the Midlands Province for similar services.”