City Councillors at odds over 'uneven development'

A heated debate erupted during a Masvingo City full council meeting after two councillors from the city's northern suburbs accused the local authority of disproportionately directing development projects to high-density suburbs south of the Mucheke River while neglecting areas that contribute significant revenue to council coffers.

Ward 9 Councillor Bernad Muchokwa and Ward 10 Councillor Sengerayi Manyanga, whose constituencies include Masvingo town, Rhodene, Zimre Park, Eastvale, Eastlea and 4 Brigade Headquarters, voiced concerns over what they described as an imbalance in the allocation of municipal projects.

Muchokwa highlighted several projects recently completed or currently underway in the high-density suburbs of Mucheke, Rujeko and Runyararo, arguing that residents on the northern side of the city had received little in comparison.

"We constructed Rujeko Secondary School, a swimming pool in Runyararo, maternity wings at Runyararo and Runyararo North West Clinics, and now council is proposing to build a school in Runyararo and another in Runyararo West. But this side of town, where most revenue comes from, is getting nothing," said Muchokwa.

He said residents in his ward had repeatedly requested the establishment of a fruit and vegetable market and the construction of public toilets, but their appeals had not been acted upon.

"We appealed for a fruit and vegetable market, but up to now nothing has been done. We are appealing for toilets, but we aren't getting them. Yet the swimming pool and maternity wings across Mucheke did not take time. Why is development concentrated across Mucheke?" he asked.

Manyanga echoed the concerns, arguing that the northern suburbs had an insufficient number of schools to cater for growing demand.

"We only have three schools, Victoria High, Victoria Junior and Hellen McGie Primary, and they are being flooded by learners from across Mucheke who prefer those institutions over schools in their own areas," he said.

He said council had previously been asked to facilitate the construction of another school and to allow Hellen McGie Primary School to expand vertically in order to accommodate more pupils.

Responding to the concerns, Masvingo City Mayor Aleck Tabe rejected claims of neglect, arguing that residents in the northern suburbs already benefited from services and infrastructure that remain unavailable in many high-density areas.

"You shouldn't be complaining. I don't want to say much, but I am sure you are aware that in Rhodene there are no potholes. If roads are damaged, we repair them, and tarring is expensive. But in Mucheke we use gravel to repair damaged roads. So don't complain," said Tabe.

Deputy Mayor Daniel Mberikunashe also defended the council's approach, saying comparisons between affluent low-density suburbs and densely populated residential areas were misplaced.

"Some other things cannot be compared. Let them apply that we have 200 or 300 square metre stands in Rhodene and see if it's possible. So we should avoid comparing because there is a reason why the planners said this side should be for people of this level. There are a lot of people in Mucheke, and a lot of money comes from there," he said.

Mberikunashe maintained that residents in the northern suburbs enjoyed better infrastructure, including tarred roads that spared motorists from dust and difficult travel conditions experienced in some southern suburbs.

"If you want a school, just lobby through the planning department so that if there is space, you get one. If we talk of roads, they drive from Rhodene up to here with clean cars, no dust. But look at us from Mucheke. Even if we look at those who owe council money, it's this side. So we shouldn't compare, because we will then say all development should go to Mucheke until we have roads like Rhodene," he said.

The exchange exposed growing tensions within the council over how municipal resources should be distributed, with some councillors advocating for development based on revenue contribution while others argue that investment should be prioritised in areas with larger populations and greater infrastructure deficits.