In preparation for a planned and sustainable future, the City of Masvingo today engaged in a half day workshop to advise stakeholders on the key priorities which include an update on the Master Plan preparation process, validate the report of study that will inform the scope of the Master Plan, Written Statement and define next steps towards finalization of the Master Plan.

Council has taken steps to inform stakeholders on continued progression of the City of Masvingo Master Plan through the lens of ‘where are we now? ‘, and informing two additional questions, ‘ where do we want to go?, and how do we get there?’

The intent is to carry out a comprehensive Master Plan that is inclusive, transparent and grounded in extensive consultation with the community.

In all aims to manage solid waste and wanting to make Masvingo urban a clean city, the City of Masvingo has effected lifelong responsible and sustainable environmental control mechanisms which include landfilling to manage the bulk of solid waste, Waste to Energy (WtE) innovation, 3 Rs; that is Reduce  Reuse and Recycle – separation of waste at source as well as strategies for solid waste management at Ward level through creation of effective and efficient health clubs and clean up campaigns. 

The City’s integrated approach and invigorated by environment education has continuously stood out as the most effective strategy in capacity building of the community for improved performance. 

Masvingo City has demonstrated that solid waste that is created in the city is evacuated and arranged in a protected and proficient way at the Cambria landfill. Council has managed to accomplish better solid waste administration framework because of fairly adequate waste gathering and good transfer framework. 

Council has managed to come up and effectively enforce the City of Masvingo Anti- littering Bylaw coupled with the Public Health Act with a $5 fine for littering and $20 fine for illegal dumping. Thus, has enabled the City to do away with the problem of open dumps.

City of Masvingo aims on its strategic blueprint and on its main objective to attain, An Industrialised World Class Metropolitan City by 2030, to achieve this, stresses a smart environment devoid of pollution in its operational parameters.

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The City of Masvingo has managed to put inplace a web- based parking system code named ‘Wezhira the Parker’ that offers pay and park facilities with computerized parking receipts. 

Council has already installed software and provided hand-held devices for attendants at parking lots that connect the feed from the City’s parking spots to the central server on the City of Masvingo website – www.masvingocity.org.zw. 

The hand-held device generates e-receipts and the software allows motorists to view online the number of free and occupied slots as and when cars enter and exit the parking lot. Council also proposes to issue preloaded cards to car owners for cashless payments. 

The new system is also aimed at reducing parking woes in the central business district. 

Data collected from client satisfaction surveys over a year ago, the City of Masvingo had flouted the idea of transparent online system in a bid to tighten security and increase revenue collection.

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. The City of Masvingo in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has embarked on a two-day induction workshop for Council owned schools’ (SDCs) school development committees  with the aim to reinforce the capacity of the SDCs who are charged with the responsibility of governing schools and increase parents’ active participationin school management. 

The program which has snowballed to become an annual event each time a new SDC is ushered in capacitate both school heads and committees on roles and responsibilities of SDC, the role of the Responsible Authority,  financial management, asset management, vehicle policy, recruitment procedures, audit, leadership and management principles. 

Over the years, there has been a remarkable improvement in SDC governance and management of schools. There was a leap in the number of effectively and efficiently governed Council schools. 

After training on financial and asset management, instituted changes have led to transparency in the management of school finances. This in turn has won SDCs greater confidence from the parents who are now more willing to pay school levies. 

Basically, to sustain close supervision of schools, demanding accountability is crucial. 

The two-day workshop established the following areas of concern; governance, financial management and school-community relations. The identified capacity gaps were refined.  

The workshop was graced by His Worship, the Mayor, Cllr Aleck Tabe and District Schools Inspector, Mr Ishmael Chigaba.

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Road Maintenance Progress Report March – April 2024

. Going beyond the rhetoric

 The City of Masvingo and Masvingo Teachers’ College are convening a joint strategy linkage partnership on promoting early childhood development in Masvingo with the two parties set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. 

Objective of this programme is that qualified teachers provide all pupils in early education equal and standard opportunities and improving their further education in primary level.

Chesvingo Safe Market ECD Centre is set to be the model ecd center as it will operate as part of an ongoing partnership where qualified teachers from Masvingo Teachers’ College will provide services.

The ecd centre will be used as a yardstic to benchmark pre- schools in Masvingo. 

Masvingo Teachers’ College is currently running one of Council’s ecd centres in Rhodene

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The City was exhibiting at the 64th edition of ZITF under the theme: ‘ Innovation, the catalyst for industrialisation and trade.

THE 64th  edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) today saw City of Masvingo being awarded the most innovative, creative local authority that showcased at the trade expo.

This year’s trade fair was testament to the resilience and ingenuity of local authorities, with the aim to promote quality exhibitions and recognise the best exhibitions. 

City of Masvingo had some exciting functional innovations and lucrative investment opportunities, proving why it is the best destination for investment. 

The City of Masvingo stand did not only display products offered by council but also locally produced products and collaborations with private players – JadconConstruction, government ministries, non govermental organizations and women’s groups.

The Great Zimbabwe Monument where the story of innovation, industrialisation and trade began caught the attention of many visitors.

Kenya President who was the guest of honor, Dr William Ruto posed for a picture with His Worship, the Mayor Cllr Aleck Tabe and Town Clerk Eng Edward Mukaratirwa after Council received the award.

City of Masvingo reviews Strategic Plan in line with President’s call to action 

City of Masvingo is currently reviewing the 5 year strategic plan in the same context and in line with the President’s call to action; ‘ No compromise to service delivery ‘.

The City of Masvingo’s strategy is an inclusive 5 year strategy that will guide different stakeholders in the City’s development over medium term (2021-2025).

Council has made remarkable growth in the current calendar year 2023 as reflected within the key programmes reports as measurement for success.  There had been substantial growth and development, greening, cleaning and beautification and housing development, water supply  among other things. 

Challenges and key learns in the current year allowed the City of Masvingo to better plan for implementation of selected projects in the coming year 2024; key strategies.

The Strategic Plan will serve as the blue print to all City stakeholders over the period of 5 years. Therefore,  the wide and comprehensive consultation with the stakeholders of the City’s partners.

The City has five (5) main key programmes namely Governance and Administration,  Sanitation and Hygiene, Social Services, Roads Infrastructure, Public Safety and Security Services and Environmental Management and Climate Change. 

Joint efforts will be mobilized from all the stakeholders of the City of Masvingo to implement this Strategic Plan in order to make the City of Masvingo an Industrialized Metropolitan City by 2030′.

In a development set to enable ease of doing business, the City of Masvingo has unveiled a USSD bill enquiry and payment function on its website. A centralised system that digitalises all accounts information for ratepayers.

Ratepayers can dial *828*8*5# and proceed to enter account number and contact to be able to enquire and pay bills. The system automatically updates accounts information.

The introduction of USSD bill enquiry and payment platform has been received well by hordes of residents as it ensures that residents access their accounts to enquire balances and process payments conveniently.

Given the ever-present payment alternatives like mobile money services such a feature is going to be very effective and conducive for residents. Currently, Council has been making use of mobile money services such as Ecocash, OneMoney as well as bank transfers.

Key among the advantages of online payments is the creation of a cashless society, eliminating the issues of queueing in Revenue Halls, bringing major convenience to ratepayers.

The Council’s initiative works with the full support of a locally designed server that computes the data quickly and updates the whole system.

The system is independent of wholesome operations, allowing independent activities to transact then compile data in the background, instead of pulling the whole database to offer a service, adding so much speed on the serving terminal. Plans are underway to introduce a mobile application to cater for the service as well.