The City of Masvingo is holding a three-day policy and by-law review workshop to ensure that policies are effective, efficient, and aligned with the needs of the community.

Objectives of the review include evaluation of the relevance, effectiveness, and impact of current policies, identification of gaps and areas for improvement and that is determining areas where policies may be lacking or require updating.

Council is aiming at updating policies that reflect community needs and address gaps and areas for improvement, ensuring that policies are aligned and consistent with one another.

Policies and by-laws under review include; Management of Health Clubs Policy, Monitoring Evaluation Policy, Wellness Policy, ICT backup and recovery Policy, Welfare of Special Groups Policy (Youth, War Veterans and Old People and people living with disabilities), Change of Approved Use Policy, Vehicle, Clamping and Towing Policy, Management of LPG gas Centre and Petroleum Stations Policy, Asset Disposal Policy, Public Events and Processions Policy, Land Management Policy, Abandoned vehicles by-laws, Regulation of day care centers and creches, Regulation of LPG centers, Regulation of non-residential activities in residential areas, Vagrancy by-laws, Regulation of Processions and Public meetings, Prevention of use of sidewalk for unauthorized purposes, Regulation of the cleansing and condition of private sewers, Regulation of dangerous trade and activities, Regulation of Functions, Performances, Events and amusements, Regulation of Public Auctions and Regulation of erection of temporary structures.

Policies under review

1. Management of Health Clubs Policy

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Policy

3. Wellness Policy

4. ICT backup and recovery Policy

5. Welfare of Special Groups Policy (Youth, War Veterans and Old People and people living with disabilities)

6. Change of Approved Use Policy

7. Vehicle, Clamping and Towing Policy

8. Management of LPG gas Centers and Petroleum Stations Policy

9. Asset Disposal Policy

10. Public Events and Processions Policy

11. Land Management Policy

Abandoned vehicles by-laws

12. Regulation of day care centers and creches

13. Regulation on non-residential activities in residential areas

14. Vagrants by-law

15. Regulation of Processions and public meetings

16. Prevention of use of sidewalk for unauthorized purposes.

17. The Regulation of the cleansing and condition of private sewers

18. Regulation of dangerous trade and activities

19. Regulation of Functions, Performances, Events and amusement

20. Regulation of Public auctions

21. Regulation of erection of temporary structures

In promoting the importance of sanitation and hygiene practices, Nemchem, a social brand that makes innovative and affordable toilet cleaning solutions has donated a consignment of bio-treatment liquids to City of Masvingo’s Health Services Department to be used in the city’s public toilets.

The aim of this initiative is to enhance sanitation in the city dovetailing with the Sustainable Development Goal 6 – access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and ending open defecation.

The donation from Nemchem was delivered to the Director Health Services, Ms. Suzanne Hazel Madamombe.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Ms. Madamombe, said ‘sanitation and hygiene is one of the pillars of the city’s development. With our partners, we shall continue to make efforts to discourage unsanitary practices and encourage hygiene practices like proper use of public toilets’.

During the launch, demonstrations on functions of the products in cleaning ablutions was made to the janitors.

City Health Services Department is committed to supporting the government of Zimbabwe’s plans and efforts being made to achieve the sustainable development goals, for the improvement of the lives and wellbeing of every person.

The Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fundraising Golf Tournament was indeed a resounding success, building on the momentum of previous events.

The tournament has been held annually, since 2020 and the event has continued to grow and attract support from the community.

The City of Masvingo has a history of hosting successful fundraising golf tournaments, including a Scholarship Fundraising Golf Tournament held at the Masvingo Golf Club on August 4th, which was also a resounding success.

Overall, it’s clear that the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fundraising Golf Tournament has become a staple of the community’s fundraising efforts, and its continued success is a testament to the generosity and spirit of the business and local community.

City of Masvingo facilitated a two-day training for Junior Councilors aiming at inclusive communication to enable effective communication with deaf or hard-of-hearing constituents, promoting inclusivity and equal access to services.

The two-day training will enable improved accessibility to council services, meetings, and events for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, ensuring equal participation and engagement.

Expectations are that there is going to be enhanced customer service through responding to the needs and concerns of deaf or hard-of-hearing constituents.

There is going to be a breaking down on communication barriers to promote social inclusion, fostering a more inclusive and diverse community, enabling of the hard – to hear individuals to participate fully in civic life and access council services without barriers and promote community engagement and participation in local decision-making processes.

The major outcome of the training will increase participation of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals in council meetings, events, and decision-making processes, better representation of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals’ needs and concerns in council decision-making and positive community impact fostering a culture of inclusion, diversity, and social responsibility

The City of Masvingo Health Services Department has embarked on a polio vaccination campaign as a proactive step to protect children from the debilitating disease.

This campaign is aimed at interrupting virus transmission and prevention of further outbreaks rapidly.

The novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) is being used.

The campaign is targeting all children under 10 years, with an estimate of 20 000 children to be reached during the exercise.

Campaign combined vaccination at health facilities, primary schools with a door-to-door approach, ensuring wide coverage.

There is also community engagement playing a crucial role in the success of the campaign. Strategic Social and Behavior Change (SBC) interventions helping overcome misinformation and engage communities. Faith-based support and addressing vaccine hesitancy are also essential components of the campaign.

The City of Masvingo today held a Local Economic Development Plan Stakeholders validation workshop with the objective of

presenting the draft LED plan to stakeholders,

get feedback and input into the LED Plan from Stakeholders and advise stakeholders on the next steps.

The workshop’s mandate was also to validate the Council’s LED Plan with stakeholders to ensure it aligns with their needs and expectations.

Stakeholders managed to validate the LED Plan that reflects their needs and expectations.

There was stakeholder buy-in and commitment to support the implementation of the LED Plan.

Present during the workshop were the local business owners, entrepreneurs, community representatives,

council officials and councilors, provincial government representatives and development agencies and NGOs.

The City of Masvingo has partnered with several stakeholders in anti-drug and substance abuse drive, ‘City of Masvingo Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Committee’.

The purpose of the committee is to coordinate and implement effective strategies to prevent and address drug and substance abuse within the city.

Objectives:

1. Conduct needs assessment and identify high-risk areas.

2. Develop and implement prevention programs.

3. Provide support services for individuals and families affected.

4. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance awareness and education.

5. Monitor and evaluate anti-drug and substance abuse programs’ effectiveness.

Membership:

1. City Health (Chairperson)

2. Legal Resources Foundation (Secretary)

3.Committee members –

. Councilor

. Health Department Representative

. Social Services Department Representative

. Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Representative

. Law Enforcement Representative (ZRP)

. CID

. Community member

. Churches Representative – Pastor

. Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation Representative.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct public awareness campaigns.

2. Organize community outreach programs.

3. Provide training for educators, healthcare workers, and law enforcement.

4. Support rehabilitation and treatment services.

5. Monitor and report on substance abuse trends.