The City of Masvingo is making steady progress on the construction of a Maternity Wing at Runyararo Clinic to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare services.

As of the 12th of June 2025, progress includes:

– Excavation 80% completion

Once completed, the facility will offer:

– Delivery rooms

– Postnatal and antenatal wards

– Newborn care unit

– Nurse and doctor workspaces

This project is funded through council funds and reflects the commitment to safe motherhood and accessible healthcare.

The wing is expected to be operational as soon as construction is completed, benefiting mothers and infants across the community.

The City of Masvingo is pleased to share progress on the Community Swimming Pool Construction Project in Runyararo.

As of the 11th of June 2025, key milestones achieved include:

· Site Clearance – completed initial site clearance of the main swimming pool area.

· Excavation – Excavated the main pool to the required depth and dimensions.

· Concrete works – poured the concrete base successfully.

· Current Status – Construction of walls in progress

· Works proceeding swiftly expected to complete within the contract timeline.

The project, funded through council budget, aims to provide residents especially youth with a safe recreational space that promotes health, sports, and community engagement.

The facility will feature:

– A standard-size swimming pool

– Shallow area for children

– Changing rooms and ablution facilities

– Lifeguard and safety provisions

The expected completion date is before year end with ongoing monitoring to ensure quality and timely delivery.

Residents are encouraged to support and take pride in this initiative that enhances social wellness and community development.

The City of Masvingo today organised an Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony recognizing cleanest schools and innovative recycling companies for their outstanding contributions to environmental management and sustainability.

Held at Junior High School, the event celebrated schools, SMEs and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to cleanliness, waste management, reuse initiatives, and community awareness.

“These awards encourage a culture of responsibility and innovation. By rewarding excellence, we inspire others to adopt cleaner, greener practices,” said His Worship, the Mayor, Cllr Aleck Tabe.

Award Categories and winners Included:

1. Cleanest school

1st prize Helen Macghie

2nd prize Francis Aphiri

3rd prize Victoria Primary

2. Best recycling initiative

1st Christian College

2nd Junior High School

3. Cleanest Market

Gomba Fruit and Veg markets

4. Cleanest SMEs

Meikles Market

5. Most participating recycling company

Stable Packaging

6. Best contributors to environment cleanliness in commerce and industry

1st Byword Motors

2nd Delta Chibuku Beverages

7. Cleanest Ward

Eastvale – Ward 10

The winners received certificates, to award their efforts. Council reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable urban development through collaboration with schools, companies, and communities.

Minister for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. Ezra Chadzamira was the guest of honour and handed over the certificates. Present were Councillors, Council management, senior government officials, business community and schools.

The City of Masvingo has launched a comprehensive waste management awareness campaign aimed at promoting responsible waste disposal, recycling, and environmental cleanliness across all wards.

The campaign, which kicked off today, the 6th of June 2025, includes, community outreach programs and clean-up demonstrations (clean-up campaign). The goal is to empower residents with knowledge on how to manage household and commercial waste effectively.

“We believe that a clean environment begins with awareness. This campaign is about changing mindsets and encouraging collective responsibility, “said the Waste Management Officer, Vimbai Huruva.

Key Messages of the Campaign:

– Importance of waste separation and recycling

– Dangers of illegal dumping and burning of waste

– Role of residents in reporting illegal dumping and bin misuse

– Benefits of community clean-up efforts

Council is also partnering with local stakeholders, schools, and environmental groups to ensure widespread participation and long-term impact.

Residents are encouraged to join the campaign and take pride in keeping their surroundings clean and healthy.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet responsible for the Finance, Administration and Human Resources Portfolio in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu, together with Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, today toured the Multipurpose Courts as part of preparations for the upcoming National Disability Expo.

The visit provided an opportunity for the senior government officials to assess the state of readyness of the venue and review ongoing preparations ahead of the national event, which is scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 June 2026.

The expo is expected to bring together stakeholders from across the country to promote disability inclusion, empowerment, and access to opportunities for persons with disabilities.

During the tour, officials received updates on the infrastructure, accessibility features, and logistical arrangements being put in place to ensure the successful hosting of the expo. The assessment focused on creating an inclusive environment that accommodates the needs of all participants and visitors.

The City of Masvingo has officially resolved to enter into a twinning partnership with a Japanese City of Mie Prefecture marking a milestone in international cooperation, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.

The twinning agreement, which is yet to be signed, aims to promote shared learning and technical exchange.

This partnership opens doors for mutual growth and global solidarity.

Key Focus Areas Include:

– Clean Cities

– Environmental Preservation

– Water and Wastewater (WASH)

– Manufacturing

– Energy

-Tourism-related investments

– Agro-progressing industries

-Mining-related industries

Both Councils are committed to nurturing a people-to-people connection and creating long-lasting impact through joint projects and capacity building.

This twinning agreement reflects the Council’s drive to position itself as a progressive, globally engaged local authority, dovetailing with the vision to become an Industrialized World Class Metropolitan City By 2030.

The City of Masvingo has strengthened its commitment to inclusive development by partnering with development partners like Gender Links to roll out comprehensive women and youths empowerment programs aimed at poverty alleviation and economic upliftment.

Through this collaboration, women,youths and men from diverse backgrounds are being equipped with essential skills, resources, and opportunities to start and expand income-generating projects, improve livelihoods, and build resilient communities.

Women and youths are key agents of transformation. Empowering them economically reduces poverty and boosts family and community well-being.

Program Highlights Include:

– Access to small grants and micro-financing

– Mentorship and capacity building

– Cooperative formation and formalization

– Gender rights awareness and leadership development

These programs are being implemented with the support of the local authority, with special focus on marginalized and vulnerable groups in all City of Masvingo’s ten (10) wards.

The municipality continues to call for more partnerships that promote sustainable development and gender equity at the local level.

The City of Masvingo in partnership with Gender Links has launched a training program aimed at strengthening the capacity of women, youths and men in floriculture (Masvingo Flora) through skills development in revenue generation, sales, marketing, cost management, and operations sustainability.

Held at Bethany on the 22nd of May, the workshop brought together women, youths and men from across the City of Masvingo’s municipal boundaries, focusing on practical tools to grow and sustain cooperative businesses.

Empowering women with entrepreneurial skills is essential for inclusive local economic development. This collaboration demonstrates the City’s and development partner’s commitment to gender equality and community empowerment.

Key Training Areas Included:

– Identifying multiple revenue streams

– Basic bookkeeping and cost control

– Branding, pricing, and local market penetration

– Long-term planning for cooperative growth and sustainability

Participants expressed appreciation for the training, noting the relevance of the content in enhancing their business operations.

The City of Masvingo has commenced a critical Service Delivery Charter Review Workshop aimed at strengthening Council’s commitment to accountable, transparent, and stakeholder-focused governance.

The workshop brings together councilors, key Council officials, community representatives, and stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of the current charter and propose updates that reflect emerging service delivery needs and national standards.

This review allows for alignment of service commitments with practical realities, stakeholder expectations, and the Council performance management framework.

Workshop Focus Areas:

– Evaluation of current service standards and delivery timelines

– Identification of service gaps and bottlenecks

– Integration of stakeholder feedback and complaint mechanisms

– Alignment with national minimum service delivery standards

– Development of action plans for implementation and monitoring.

The updated charter is expected to improve communication between Council and its stakeholders to ensure service quality, and enhance public trust.

The review process is scheduled to conclude with a public validation session to ensure inclusivity and community ownership.

The City of Masvingo in conjunction with the Dialogue on Shelter Trust successfully hosted a seminar on land tenure on the 15th of May at Great Zimbabwe University campus bringing together key stakeholders to reflect on land administration experiences and map out strategic directions for the future.

The seminar provided a platform for urban planners, legal experts, Council representatives, landowners, and community representatives to share insights on tenure security, land allocation procedures in Masvingo city, and development control within the city.

Understanding land tenure is crucial for inclusive development. This seminar helped participants to understand property rights, cession, how to acquire property in Masvingo, title deeds procedure among many other issues discussed.

Topics covered included:

– Legal frameworks governing land rights

– Legal Processes in Securing Tenure

– Conflict Resolution on Lease and Rentals

– Steps in Securing Tenure in Masvingo

By emphasizing secure land tenure,the forum sought to underscore its vital role in fostering sustainable urban development and enhancing the living standards of those residing in informal settlements.

The seminar provided a platform for diverse stakeholders to share their experiences, best practices, and innovative solutions to land tenure issues, aiming to create a more equitable and secure urban environment.

The seminar concluded with recommendations on strengthening sensitization programs to raise awareness on land tenure issues.