Visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee (PPC) on Public Accounts to the City of Masvingo

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts embarked on an oversight visit to the City of Masvingo on Wednesday , 30 March 2022, in view of monitoring and evaluation of solid waste management issues raised by the Auditor General.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Dexter Nduna, led the delegation and explained the purpose of the Committee’s visit. The City of Masvingo’s Town Clerk, Eng Edward Mukaratirwa , in turn, welcomed the Public Accounts Committee, after which he introduced Councillors and Managers of the local authority.

Hon. Dexter Nduna gave a presentation on the role of the Committee and its core functions. He outlined the purpose of the visit and went on to pause questions to the Town Clerk on issues to do with solid waste management. Eng Mukaratirwa explained Council’s strategy and waste management policy which dovetails with the City’s mandate of providing adequate and sustainable municipal services to clients and diverse socio economic development opportunities to all stakeholders. In his presentation, Eng Mukaratirwa gave a detailed account of the integrated multidisciplinary mapping solid waste management programme and the landfill which is  still under construction and at 60% completion, Council is currently undertaking. He further outlined the progress made thus far in respect of these projects and presented the operational status and improvement plans of the City to the committee. After the presentations, the members of Parliament questioned the Accounting Officer (Town Clerk) and  management and advised the Council on issues that needed to be prioritised.

During their visit to the City of Masvingo, the Public Accounts members also visited various facilities which include the dumpsite and recently completed clinic in Runyararo North West.

The City of Masvingo held a 2022 Performance Contracts signing ceremony on the 25^th of March 2022 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 2022 Performance Contract signing ceremony took a different dimension as it was signed in the presence of His Worship, The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors.

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.

The performance contract signing ceremony started with a Departmental Integrated Perfomance Agreement. All Directors attended and signed their respective documents upon which their work will be evaluated in the ensuing year.

The Zimbabwe CEO’s Network awarded City of Masvingo ‘Best Performing Award’ on February  25, 2022, at Miekles Hotel in Harare. This honour is awarded to municipalities doing the most in the following sectors: service delivery, social upliftment, attract foreign investment, clean environment, develop and enhance infrastructure over the past 12 months within their municipal boundaries.

The Town Clerk, Eng Edward Mukaratirwa, also tops the shortlist and was awarded the most proactive and outstanding Town Clerk.

City of Masvingo  was recognised as one of the entities that have created jobs, attracted investments, combated crime, and promoted social upliftment.

This was certified by a shield which was received at the recent Zimbabwe CEO’s Network Awards.

The City of Masvingo staff spent two hours on Friday the 4^th  of March 2022, from 8 am to 10 am picking up litter and cleaning their immediate and surrounding environments.

The cleaning efforts were part of the national clean-up campaign, which has seen the nation declaring zero tolerance to litter and setting aside the first Friday of every month as a national clean-up day.

The campaign, which was organized under the auspices of the Department of Health services began with a presentation from the department on the importance of having clean environments, before participants proceeded to Leopold Takawira Bus Terminus and surrounding areas to pick up litter.

Speaking during her presentation, Environmental Health Technician, Mrs Fungai Mataru  highlighted that as part of ongoing efforts to ensure a healthy and clean City, the department had scaled up efforts through formulation of health clubs to help reduce uncollected waste and minimize waste dumping.

Running under the theme ‘Working together for a Clean and Healthy Environment’, the clean-up campaign was part of wider efforts by the City of Masvingo to conscientize local communities of the health dangers posed by improper waste disposal.

December 5, 2018, marks the day when His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa declared every first Friday of each calendar month as national Clean-Up Day. Thus recognizing the Constitutional Mandate to uphold environmental fundamental rights and freedoms provided for in section 73 of the constitution of Zimbabwe the ‘right to an environment that is not harmful to tier health and well-being’.

The Zimbabwe CEO’s Network last week celebrated City of Masvingo’s Town Clerk, Eng Edward Mukaratirwa, for his invaluable contributions to the growth of the Zimbabwe’s oldest city.

Eng Mukaratirwa scooped an award or demonstrating an exceptional commitment to the business professional through conduct of meta-analysis and profundity thoughts.

“To honour the efforts in rural and urban development, we are recognising the contributions of Eng Edward Mukaratirwa the Town Clerk for City of Masvingo for outstanding performance in growth of smart cities”, Zimbabwe CEO’s network.

Engineer Mukaratirwa is a dedicated engineer who commands tremendous respect in the field. He sits in several boards. He is the current Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Masvingo Area Chairman, Runde Catchment Council Vice Chairman (2014), Mutirikwi Sub-Catchment Council Chairman (2014 & 2020) and Mutirikwi Sub-Catchment Vice Council Chairman (2013 & 2019) and a member of the Masvingo Polytechnic College Advisory Board (2021).

Adding to that he holds professional membership to Engineering Profession bodies both locally and regionally. He is Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe, a Corporate Member of Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers and member of Water Institute of Southern Africa.

In recognition of his outstanding  work, he has received several prestigious awards. Prior to his appointment as the Town Clerk of City of Masvingo he was Deputy City Engineer and has been instrumental in the implementation and fulfillment of several projects within the city.

He was the Project Engineer for Bradburn Extension Road Construction (March 2019-August 2019), Mucheke D Infill Stands Servicing (November 2017- August 2019), Rujeko Footbridge (November 2018-August 2019), Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme-Masvingo City (2017-2018), Target Kopje & Hillside Extension Roads Surfacing (February 2018-August 2019), Resident Engineer for Mucheke Sewer Trunk Line Construction (March 2015-May 2016), Beneficiary Representative for Water and Waste Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation (June 2014-January 2016), Resident Engineer for Bushmead Pumping Main Replacement (April 2011-February 2013), Resident Engineer for PSIP Roads Rehabilitation (March 2012-November 2012), and Resident Engineer for Hillside Infrastructure Development (September 2011-October 2012).

Preceding his role as the Deputy City Engineer he was Chief Executive Officer for Gutu Rural District Council and instrumental in its growth.

He is a holder of the following qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) –Great Zimbabwe University
• BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering- University of Zimbabwe

Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon July Moyo on Friday 25 February 2022 visited Masvingo toured Masvingo City Council’s projects.

This was to assess on progress of Masvingo City Council’s projects funded from the Devolution Funds, ZINARA and Council coffers.

“We have to see what is happening on the ground, we will be able to see what the City of Masvingo has done, what it still needs and how we can progress,” he said.

The Minister’s entourage toured the roads which were rehabilitated under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP 2), the new landfill in Cambria Farm on a piece of land that was issued to City of Masvingo by the government, recently completed Runyararo North West clinic and officially opened Rujeko Secondary School

In his welcome address, His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Collen Maboke acknowledged the support of the parent ministry as well as support of the office of Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the infrastructural development in the City.

“Most of the sites visited were supported by government, Masvingo is privileged to be continuously receiving financial and material support from the government (devolution funds, ERRP 2 and Cambria farm for landfill waste management project) and we don’t take it for granted”, he said.

“It is a clear recognition of the centrality of our Council to the overall strategy of achieving NDS1 and vision 2030”, Cllr. Maboke said.

The City of Masvingo’s infrastructure development drive is in line with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ vision of embracing the smart city concept.

Hon July Moyo was accompanied on the tour by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Ezra Chadzamira, officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, His Worship, the Mayor, Cllr Collen Maboke, Deputy Mayor, Cllr Wellington Mawende, Alderman Maridza, Councillors, Town clerk, JOC members, Provincial heads of Government Ministries, Council Management and other council officials.

Local Government and Public Works Minister, Hon July Moyo officially opened Council owned Rujeko Secondary School on the 25^th of February 2022.

The secondary school is not only the first in the history of Masvingo City Council but most local authorities in the country.

Minister July Moyo applauded Masvingo City Council for raising the bar high and setting the pace for other local authorities.

“  I am very appreciative for such an initiative taken by Masvingo City Council.  Not all local authorities have built secondary schools as most focus on constructing primary schools.

This noble idea is in sync with the government’s National Development Strategy 1 and vision 2030 wherein amongst some of its key priority areas, social services provision is key.  As you might be aware, vision 2030 fulfills some of the sustainable development goals and this project is direct confirmation of Council’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goal no. 4, which is quality education”, he said.

The new school opened its doors this month on the 14^th of February 2022 with an initial enrolment of 220 form one pupils. The first 2 blocks of the school and ablution facilities were constructed at a cost of ZWL 18 million.

Hon July Moyo was accompanied by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Ezra Chadzamira, officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, His Worship, the Mayor. Cllr Collen Maboke, Deputy Mayor, Cllr Wellington Mawende, Alderman Maridza, Councillors, Town Clerk, JOC Members, provincial Heads of Government Ministries and Council Management.

Masvingo City Council (MCC), the Local Governance Trust (LGT) and Masvingo United Residents & Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) are increasingly recognizing the added value that greater partnership working between the residents body and Council brings to the vital services we provide and the communities we serve.

The strategic synergies have enabled an improvement in service provision in the city, through enhancing Masvingo City Council’s Service Delivery Charter. The three parties have made notable strides in enhancing the Service Delivery Charter’s functionality and connect it with citizens’ obligations, by inclusion of a section that captures the Service Standards. The standards will enable Council and citizens to track service commitments made during the service delivery charter development process.

Masvingo City Council, Masvingo Residents & Ratepayers Association and Local Governance Trust continue to have a shared commitment to enhance and devolve services to the lowest appropriate level, strengthen local decision-making, improve engagement with residents by increasing citizen participation in local governance and much more.