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Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau
MAKONDE Rural District Council has embarked on an ambitious project to develop dormitory residential and commercial stands targeting Chinhoyi residents along its boundaries with the town. The RDC has proposed a $3,5 million budget with a significant chunk going towards purchase of capital equipment and projects aimed at developing the residential areas. The budget also seeks to spruce up Mhangura and Murereka townships which are expected to grow into towns in the near future.

In an interview after adoption of the 2019 budget by council, chairman Councillor Simbarashe Ziyambi said Makonde had pockets of land on its boundaries with Chinhoyi which they wanted to reserve for residential purposes.
“We are working flat out to establish an area closer to Chinhoyi which is called Portlett Estate. We have already started the planning together with the Department of Physical Planning.

“We want to develop the area in terms of business, residential and industrial stands so that it grows into a mini-town because of its proximity to Chinhoyi town,” he said.

Cllr Ziyambi said the area had great potential and they would want to expeditiously develop it.
“We call it an enclave development, away from town but wholly owned by Makonde RDC. It is our own area which we are going to grow.”

He said the Makonde RDC plans to develop the district starting from the boundaries with Chinhoyi going inwards.
This will be complemented by a similar development at the 300-hectare Highlands Farm near Chinhoyi Caves.

“The layout plans for the Highlands Farm project have been done already and we are only waiting for the approval from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing,” he said.

Makonde RDC crafted the $3,5 million budget with more than $1 million going towards the purchase of road maintenance equipment.

Priority will also be given to improving service delivery in Murereka, Mhangura and Doma townships.
“We are growing Murereka Township and we want it to get town status soon. There is a lot that is happening in Murereka including improving provision of water, repairing and developing roads.

“We are also working on Mhangura which is owned by ZMDC but we are coming in as a local authority because we have been tasked to take care of its service delivery needs. We are trying our level best to address its peculiar needs. It is also growing in terms of population.”

Council wants improved services at Doma Centre and the rural areas of Kenzamba and Kanyaga.
“We plan to recapitalise and purchase road maintenance equipment and we realise Zinara funds are limited. Road maintenance takes centre stage in the 2019 budget,” he said.

Makonde RDC this year collected about $1,7 million of its $2,3 million budget while the 2019 budget has significantly increased to fulfil capital projects.

The budget, Cllr Ziyambi said, would be targeted at addressing service delivery in the district including provision of water, building of new schools and clinics.