Murambinda: A new town is born

MURAMBINDA is now a town, and everything that happens from now on should bear testimony to this. Anything that happens there must be designed to transform it into a modern, smart and inclusive urban settlement.

All new buildings must be approved on the basis of how they help beautify the town and planners must now work on its attractiveness so that it evolves within the parameters of the smart city.

Town status is a journey on its own — and now that Murambinda is a town, efforts must be made to make it a technologically driven settlement with efficient transport and energy systems.

It takes time, resources, good planning and policies. Resources permitting, ward based awareness meetings must be conducted to sensitise residents that the game has now changed.

This development is a culmination of a process initiated in 2007 when Buhera Rural District Council wrote to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works requesting the growth point to be considered for town status.

A lot happened in-between, including the establishment of a commission to investigate reasons for granting the status or otherwise.

The commission had wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders gathering opinions, both for and against the request.

The consultations considered political, social, cultural issues, population threshold, infrastructure, economic activities, industrial base, potential for growth and population movement.

The process was mutually exclusive, and the final decision was based on merit.

Granting of town status is done through Section 4(1)(a) of the Urban Councils Act, and Presidential proclamation.

Murambinda has a strong footing, given that it is coming from an entirely communal background, with the land being turned into State land and being incorporated into its boundaries. This means land is basically cheaper as the town board will only compensate for improvements and not the land itself. Already, Local Government and Public Works Minister, Dr July Moyo has appointed a committee, comprising of a director rural local authority (chairperson), legal advisor, financial advisor, and principal administrative officer (secretary) to oversee the allocation of assets between Buhera RDC and the town board.

Buhera RDC chief executive officer, Dr Emily Chibvongodze said the team will also be responsible for staff allocation, setting modalities for sharing cross-cutting costs, separating creditors and debtors, creating boundaries of the town board and re-jigging the development plan in line with the smart city concept.

“We are proud of the development because we have been preparing for it. We have been upgrading the centre with street lights, tarred roads and high rising buildings.

“Initially Buhera District had Birchenough as its only growth point with Murambinda serving as a district service centre. However, given its centrality and accessibility, Murambinda grew very fast such that we had to apply for growth point status, and now it is a town.

“As Buhera RDC, we will now concentrate on developing Birchenough since Murambinda has been weaned from us,” she said.

She expressed optimism that Murambinda will grow fast as it takes advantage of the expansion of Dorowa Minerals, the completion of Marovanyati Dam, and lucrative activities around the water reservoir.

“We thank Government for this recognition – which coincided with the completion of Marovanyati Dam. Twinning the two means more development for Murambinda. Numerous investors have expressed interest in fisheries, conferencing and hospitality, wildlife and hotels around the dam,” said Dr Chibvongodze.

While getting town status marks the end of the procedural process, it does not end the process itself. It is the start of a much more challenging process of ensuring that Murambinda proves that it deserves the town status.

While stakeholders celebrate this achievement, they should also remember that more work has to be done henceforth. Murambinda has to pay for its growth, and where residents were not paying levies and rates, they now have to.

Urban planning expert, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje said this development means Murambinda can no longer depend on Buhera RDC for anything.

“It is now an institution on its own, and it has to make sure that it has enough revenue streams to sustain its development. Authorities should recruit well and make sure that they have competent people in all the key posts. That way they will have done half the job.

“Murambinda will require strong and innovative governance. Its institutional make-up will play a large role on how it develops. Planning will be critical to give it the ambience of a modern urban settlement. Also from now on, any building that will be constructed has to exhibit qualities of an urban environment. That means strict development control and management going forward,” he said.

The town board needs to come up with a master plan that clearly articulates its vision for growth and define land use zones that trigger its growth.

Murambinda also needs to come up with development conditions that lure investments through land discounts, tax holidays for investors, reliable renewable energy, as well as a robust, efficient and effective transportation system.

There is also need to protect buildings, trees and other natural artefacts of historical importance through building preservation orders.

Prof Kamuzhanje said the key tenets of urban planning which are order, convenience, safety and amenity have not changed over the years, although they are largely ignored, thereby creating a mess in most towns.

“These are the pillars that should be used to guide the spatial development of Murambinda. All the other things can fit nicely in these four.

“Like most urban centres outside Harare and Bulawayo, Murambinda will develop on the basis of agriculture and mining activities taking place on its periphery. While crop agriculture is difficult in the district, there is an opportunity for livestock,” he said.

There are existing and lined up irrigation schemes up and downstream Marovanyati Dam whose potential must be fully exploited to ensure the town grows to its maximum potential.

The dam will also ameliorate the town’s development because one of the challenges of most settlements is the availability of water.

“The town board should visit Gokwe Centre to get an idea of the path taken by the centre to become one of the fastest growing urban centres in the country,” said Prof Kamuzhanje.

Urban planner, Dr Percy Toriro said Murambinda is largely an urban economy already.

“Murambinda’s economy remains largely agricultural, but it is expected that as it continues to grow, it will diversify and become more complex. Future investments, urban planning and management should lead to the improvement of residents’ lives.

“The surrounding agricultural economy, Government services and commerce will be the settlement’s attractions. Processing industries could help add value,” said Dr Toriro.

Mr Herbert Ma k um be expressed optimism that industries will move to the town, thereby creating jobs for locals.

“For years, Murambinda and surrounding areas were having challenges in terms of banks. The district has more than 40 schools. Teachers and other Government employees, as well as mine workers are struggling to get banking services. This will soon be a thing of the past.

“More investors will move, thereby bringing convenience to locala. The fact that Murambinda is now a town will automatically attract development, upgrading of roads, bridges and the like. Properties in and around the town will also gain value,” he said.

About 18 000 people live in Murambinda. Mission schools like Ma ku mb eHigh,Ny ash a nu Mission, Hande High and the revered Murambinda Mission Hospital are domiciled in the town. Murambinda Mission Hospital attends to patients that come from as far afield as Chipinge, Masvingo, Chivhu, Wedza and Rusape.

Murambinda is linked by the main road to Harare, Chivhu and Nyazura.