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Melissa Makoto Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa has announced Government’s intention to establish a new business centre adjacent to Chivi turn-off by October 31.

The centre, to be called Chivi Turn-off Business Centre, will comprise a township and an industrial area.

President Mnangagwa made the announcement under Proclamation 5 of 2018 under Statutory Instrument 179 of 2018, that was published in last week’s Government Gazette.

“Whereas, it is provided by Section 6(1) (b) of the Communal Lands Act (Chapter 20:04) which states that subject to this Act, the Forest Act (Chapter 19:05) and the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14) the President may, by statutory instrument and after consultation with any rural district council established for the area concerned, declare that any land within communal land shall cease to form part of communal land;

“And whereas, I consider it desirable to (a) establish a business centre into communal land adjacent to Chivi turn-off and (b) establish a township for the business centre and (c) establish and industrial area and (d) fix the area for the business centre and (e) assign a name for the business centre and (f) fix a date to becoming a business centre.

“Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President, as aforesaid, I do hereby establish a business centre at Chivi turn-off; and (b) establish a township for the business centre and (c) establish and industrial area and which shall come into being on the 31st of October, 2018 and (d) name the business centre Chivi Turn-Off Business Centre. Given under my hand and the public seal of Zimbabwe at Harare this day of August, in the year of our Lord to thousand and eighteen,” read the proclamation

Subsequently, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister under Statutory 180 of 2018 has set aside the communal land for the establishment of a business centre.

According to the Statutory Instrument anyone occupying the land should vacate it.

“The minister hereby orders all persons or such class of persons who are occupying or using the land described in the schedule other than by virtue of a right held in terms of the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), to depart permanently with all their property from the land concerned by the 31st of October, 2018.”

The area for the new centre stretches from the 45km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge highway for approximately 1,5km towards the western direction.

“It also stretches towards the north to Gweru-Chivi road for approximately 3km up to a point where it is approximately 1km from the junction of the Masvingo-Beitbridge road and Gweru-Chivi road.