‘Improvement of service delivery top priority’

NEWLY-ELECTED Zvishavane Town Council chairperson Councillor Khulekani Ndlovu says improvement of service delivery is a top priority as the growing mining town seeks to lure investors in various economic spheres.

Clr Ndlovu said he was fully aware of the tasks at hand and promised to deliver.

“I recognise the task at hand which is transformational in nature because we want our town to be accorded a municipal status hence we will upgrade road, health and housing infrastructure in line with the pre requisites for a municipality,” he said.

The MDC councillor said party politics is now behind them and the council will now focus on economic goals as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.

Clr Ndlovu said the water provision and sewer reticulation is an urgent matter for Zvishavane so as to avoid potential disease outbreaks.

“I will champion the improvement of water and sanitation services for our town so that we keep diseases away. Our health facilities should be equipped with modern infrastructure to quickly respond to the needs of our society.

‘‘There is need to rehabilitate water and sewer pipes in Mandava and Kandodo which are our oldest suburbs,” he said.

He said the town continues to grow in population as it hosts a campus for the Midlands State University, hence there is need to increase housing facilities to accommodate the students.

“In terms of housing, we are seeking to reduce the housing backlog for Zvishavane home seekers. I recognise that more and more students continue to trickle into our town as the MSU is growing,” he said.

Clr Ndlovu will lead a 10-member council comprising seven councillors from the MDC-Alliance and three from Zanu-PF while Councillor Jerrita Mundonga was elected vice-chairperson.

Meanwhile, Zvishavane Residents and Ratepayers Association vice chair Janet Shava said the councillors should devise strategies to ensure residents pay their monthly bills in a flexible environment.

“Our council bills are too much. They should devise strategies to encourage ratepayers to pay up.

“We want council to discount 50 percent of the bills for committed ratepayers,” she said.