Despite inclement economic conditions that have characterized the country and councils not being spared, the City of Masvingo has managed to construct three (3) more blocks at Rujeko Secondary School at a budgeted cost of ZWL 93 874 665.
The school which opened doors on the 14th of February 2022 has two intakes so far with a staggering enrolment of 360 pupils for Form One and Two. Council has since embarked on construction of two more blocks in preparation for the 2024 enrolment of Form Ones. The Seventh block is a science lab which was funded by the school development committee.
Construction of Rujeko Secondary School is expected to go a long way in bridging a yawning infrastructure gap that was occasioned by the absence of a secondary school in the high-density suburb of Rujeko. Previously, the government owned secondary schools in Mucheke; Ndarama and Mucheke High Schools were catering for pupils in Rujeko which is the inspiration behind the construction of the secondary school with an envisaged capacity of 600 pupils.

Drawing from a ZWL 307 217 707 million purse, City of Masvingo has for the past 4 years implementing life-changing projects that permeate all facets of life as part of the devolution revolution being championed by President Mnangagwa.

The city of Masvingo has a total population of 90 000, according to the 2022 census report, therefore the implemented projects have a direct effect and transformation towards the total population of the city. The City has however made great strides in the socioeconomic sphere because of the devolution programme

Consultations were made with the communities in selecting projects which were later implemented. Among the community driven projects include; Mucheke Trunk Sewer Line upgrading, North West Medical Centre, Rujeko Secondary School, Rujeko Isolation Centre, Garikai and Leopold Takawira Markets, Cambria Landfill, Boreholes.

The ongoing Mucheke Trunk Sewer project which s currently at 75% physical completion was allocated ZWL 118 108 844-65. Once completed, the sewer line is expected to service the whole city and connect the new location Victoria Ranch. On a daily basis, the city records around five sewer blockages, hence sewer blockages will be reduced as a result of upgrading. It will also cater for industrial expansion and reduce pollution of the environment.

Mucheke Trunk Sewer Line project also created employment for locals who were hired as contract workers while local businesses flourished through ripple effects.

In the sphere of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) : Good Health and Well-being , the City of Masvingo successfully constructed North West Medical Centre at a total cost of ZWL 22 243 354-58. The clinic serves a new location Victoria Ranch which has an estimated population of 15 000 and Runyararo suburb with an estimated population of 15 000. The clinic also has a mental health unit which galvanise the fight against drug and substance abuse in the city.

The ongoing Cambria Landfill project which seeks to improve solid waste management is also on course and at 98% physical completion. The Government availed 12 ha for the project to City of Masvingo for the project. The first cell which now at 98% physical completion was constructed at a cost of ZWL 69 915 216. Once completed and commissioned the landfill is going to benefit the whole city with a total population of 90 000 people. It will also mean decommissioning of the dumpsite which is a health risk in Runyararo suburb.               

In addition, the City also successfully completed construction of Garikai Fruits and Vegetable Market and Leopold Takawira Market at a total cost of ZWL 2 992 635-69. Farmers in and around the city (peri-urban) can now sell their produce to the local vendors who buy in bulk for re-sell. About 500 vendors benefitted from the project which was successfully implemented in 2020. The first phase saw construction of 6 Market sheds at both sites. This has however helped in de-congesting the CBD, bringing sanity to the city.

Life-changing initiatives have seen a secondary school being constructed, Rujeko Secondary School at a total cost of ZWL 93 874 665. The first phase has seen construction of 4 blocks for form ones and twos. There are two more blocks currently under construction. The school is expected to benefit the whole city. Current enrollment for the school stands at +/-360 pupils.

The City of Masvingo also managed to equip Rujeko Isolation centre in 2020 at the height of COVID 19 at a cost of ZWL 37 350 -00. The facility served the whole district.

In addition, the funding also saw drilling of  3 boreholes in Ward 3,4 and 10 in 2019, at a total cost of ZWL 387 120-00 as an alternative source of water.

The City of Masvingo held a 2023 Performance Contracts signing ceremony on the 24^th of March 2023 at its Civic Centre Offices.

This comes as part of the efforts at ensuring that Directors live up to their tasks and in fulfillment of the City of Masvingo’s mandate.

The 2023 Performance Contract signing ceremony was signed in the presence the Town Clerk, Eng. Edward Mukaratirwa.

The Town Clerk Eng. Edward Mukaratirwa gave a key note address on implementation of performance enhancement measures.

Eng Mukaratirwa who is the accounting officer for City of Masvingo will ensure that departments comply with the signed performance contracts every year for monitoring and evaluations purposes and to fulfill the key performance indicators.

All Directors attended and signed their respective documents upon which their work will be evaluated in the ensuing year.

The City of Masvingo held a 2023 Performance Contracts signing ceremony on the 24^th of March 2023 at its Civic Centre Offices.

This comes as part of the efforts at ensuring that Directors live up to their tasks and in fulfillment of the City of Masvingo’s mandate.

The 2023 Performance Contract signing ceremony was signed in the presence the Town Clerk, Eng. Edward Mukaratirwa.

The Town Clerk Eng. Edward Mukaratirwa gave a key note address on implementation of performance enhancement measures.

Eng Mukaratirwa who is the accounting officer for City of Masvingo will ensure that departments comply with the signed performance contracts every year for monitoring and evaluations purposes and to fulfill the key performance indicators.

All Directors attended and signed their respective documents upon which their work will be evaluated in the ensuing year.

Eng Kudzaishe Mbetu has been appointed as the City of Masvingo substantive Deputy Director Engineering Services effective 3 January 2023.

Eng Mbetu joined City of Masvingo in 2020 as the Operations Engineer from City of Gweru where he was Water and Sewer Engineer. Eng Mbetu was subsequently promoted to the position of Acting Director Engineering Services at the absence of a substantive Director, a role which he served with diligence and dedication.

Eng Mbetu played a significant role in the successful completion of Runyararo South West Clinic, construction of Cambria Landfill, Mucheke Sewer Trunk Line, ERRP Rujeko Secondary School as the engineer in 2021 and 2022.

Eng Mbetu who has 10 years of experience in the Engineering field has a Master of Business Administration Degree (Great Zimbabwe University), Bachelor of science Honors Degree in Engineering (University of Zimbabwe), Certificate of Training in Geographic Information Systems and GPS Survey (SIRDC), Certificate in Rapid Gravity and Sand Filter (University of Zimbabwe) and Postgraduate Diploma in Water Supply and Sanitation (Institute of Water and Sanitation Development).

We wish Eng. Kudzaishe Mbetu success in his new role at City of Masvingo.

Mr Danister Jori has been appointed the new substantive Finance Director for City of Masvingo after an illustrious career in finance, following the retirement of his predecessor Mrs Thandiwe Dube on the 5^th of August 2021.

His appointment is with effect from January 3 2023.

Mr Jori studied Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Economics with University of Zimbabwe in 2001.

He did his Master of Commerce Degree (Applied Accounting) with Great Zimbabwe University in 2016.

Part of his long resume is that he worked for Gweru City Council, Go-Beer Breweries and City of Masvingo.

Mr. Jori joined City of Masvingo in 2010 as a Senior Accountant, rising a year later to become Deputy Finance Director.

He remained in this position until his latest appointment.

Mr. Jori represented Zimbabwe at the 2022 World Congress of Accounting in Mumbai India

His Worship, the Mayor, Councillors, Management and Staff congratulate Danister on his new appointment and wish him all the best in his new role.

By Oder of Council

The City of Masvingo in conjunction with the Masvingo Business Community joined the rest of the country in undertaking a massive clean up exercise early this morning in the Central Business District, Metro Peech area to create an awareness on litter menace and inculcating the habit of cleanliness in the city.
The exercise which was led by Ward 5 Cllr. R. Kamuzonda and the Acting Director of Housing and Social Services, Mr. S. Mandishona was done to rid the City’s Business District of filth and to complement His Excellency the president’s vision and efforts to make Zimbabwe the cleanest country in Africa.
The clean-up exercise attracted a large number of people who participated in weeding and sweeping of the environment.

The City of Masvingo’s Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fundraising Golf Tournament held at the Masvingo Golf Club on Wendsday the 7th of December 2022 was a resounding success with overwhelming support from Golfers and Sponsors from the corporate world. The tournament managed to raise US$ 4 500.

The tournament was aimed at raising funds for the less privileged members of our community. The targeted beneficiaries include; Alpha Cottages Children’s Home, Copota School for the Blind, Association for the Visually Handicapped, Pioneer Trust, Alfred Walter Hostel, Jairos Jiri Association, John Mutikizizi Old People’s Home, Masvingo General Hospital, Mazorodze Martenity Home, Morgenster School for the Deaf, Morgenster Hospital, Mucheke Old People’s Home, National Council for Disabled Persons, Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital, Copota Workshop for the Blind, SPCA, ZIMCARE TRUST (MSVO BRANCH) Ratidzo School, Zimbabwe Parents for the Handicapped Children and ZIKI Cooperative Society so for the Blind.

Addressing guests and golfers who attended the tournament’s prize-giving ceremony and cocktail reception, City of Masvingo Town Clerk, Eng. E. Mukaratirwa highlighted the importance of giving to the less fortunate members of our society so that they can also have a good Christmas.

‘We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the valued support of the City of Masvingo’s Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fundraising Golf Tournament. Your donations are very important to us as they help in the continuity of the Mayor’s office’s efforts to assist the less privileged members of our community. This would have not been successful without your act of generosity in support of the golf tournament’, he said.

Also speaking during the event, Masvingo Golf Club captain Mr Callisto Rukuni applauded the relationship between the Masvingo Business community, the Golfers and Masvingo City Council. He said much hope is that the amicable working relationship will see the development and growth of the City of Masvingo which has a vision to be an industrialised metropolitan city by 2030. He chronicled some of the partnerships’ achievements to date.
Apart from the fundraising golf tournament, the Masvingo Business community as well as individuals had earlier on contributed towards the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund from the day of the launch on the 2nd of November 2022.

The fundraising golf tournament whose key sponsors were Byword Motors, Econet Wireless, Great Zimbabwe Realtors, Regency Hotels, Exor, FBC Holdings, Praise Coast, Well East Ceramic, Schweppes Zimbabwe, Amtec Motors, Nanolean, Masvingo Brick n Tyle, Regency Hotels Flamboyant, Caravan Park, Doczine, Proper Engineering, Midweek Watch attracted golfers from the southern region including Zvishavane and Renco.