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Sydney Kawadza Mashonaland West Bureau
Local authorities should channel devolution funds from Government for capital development projects that benefit residents and ratepayers, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga has said.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting to introduce a potential investor eyeing sewer system upgrades for Chinhoyi Municipality recently, Deputy Minister Mhlanga also revealed that Government was targeting to upgrade the town’s old residential areas.

She said the upgrades would include construction of multi-storey buildings in areas such as Cold Stream, Gadzema and Chikonohono, with Government looking at preserving agricultural land that could be targeted for housing development projects.

The sewer system introduced by Ozonetek Africa also known as the Advanced Oxidation System, which can sterilise the water so that it can be used of irrigation and other purposes.

“We also want to tell you that the 5 percent grant is indeed coming to our local authorities, logistics or all the arrangements to make sure that at least part of $310m that has been earmarked to come to local authorities through the provincial councils through the devolution system.

“Chinhoyi Municipality will be able to access funds from the Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. You are compelled to use that money towards capital development projects,” she said.

The Chinhoyi Municipality is currently saddled with housing waiting list of about 800 people although its population is on an upward trajectory with students from the Chinhoyi University of Technology contributing to the housing shortages in the town.

She said the Advanced Oxidation System would assist the foreign currency starved municipality struggling to get although there is urgent need to upgrade service provision.

“So for us to say Chinhoyi Municipality is running as a city or as a town or any other local authority or an urban set up we want sewer to be right, we want your water to be right and also want you to ensure that you are collecting your refuse collection.

“We also want to make sure that you have proper dumping sites and improve on street lighting. It is not good to have dark cities we must make sure that we attend to our street lighting.”

She said efforts are being made to expand Chinhoyi in view of the rising student population currently believed to be approximately 12 000.

“We think the local authority should actually take lead in creating housing units so that it becomes easier for us if we have this kind of the sewer set up to then and expand our housing.”

Deputy Minister Mhlanga urged Chinhoyi Municipality to engage developers who can build at least 500 houses within a short space of time.

She said the flats would help in accommodating both students and residents.

“Any developer who engages you we expect him to capture the vertical method because we cannot continue eating into prime agricultural land,” she said.

The Deputy Minister urged council to develop proper structures for vendors and small-to-medium-enterprises which are strategic and accessible to the public.

She reiterated Government’s commitment to assist all local authorities across the country.

Meanwhile, Ozonetek Africa Director Mr Gert Coetzee said his company was ready to assist council set up a sewer reticulation system producing water effluent that meets EMA standards

The Advanced Oxidation System was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2016 with the first installation in Ruwa while efforts are being made to include other municipalities across Zimbabwe.