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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Masvingo City is finalising the crafting of a new masterplan that will guide the country’s oldest town’s growth and expansion trajectory over the next 40 years.

The masterplan is a joint effort by council and the department of Physical Planning in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

Masvingo City has no masterplan after the expiry of a previous plan, close to a decade ago.

Town Clerk Mr Adolph Gusha yesterday said work on the new masterplan was nearing completion.

“It is a legal document which every town and city must have and we are hopeful that our masterplan will be ready in the near future,” he said. “In fact, the plan is almost complete. There are only a few things that need to be attended to and we are working on it together with the department of physical planning.

“The plan will give direction on the city’s future growth in terms of expansion and other issues and we are anticipating a lot of investment in Masvingo from now going forward as the economy continues to improve, hence the need to have a masterplan.’’

Mr Gusha said work on the masterplan was initially started with funding from the South African government’s Department of Trade and Industry.

The South African department reportedly donated R10 million for work on the Masvingo City masterplan.

“They (South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry) were paying the consultant who was working on our masterplan,” said Mr Gusha.

“I think it was done under a government-to-government arrangement, but work on the masterplan could not be completed and we took over and started working with the Department of Physical Planning to complete the remaining work.’’

Mr Gusha said the masterplan would be subject to approval by Government before official unveiling.

Masvingo City is earmarked for further expansion and growth on the anticipated re-opening of key industries such as the mothballed Cold Storage Company plant in the industrial area.

Plans are also afoot to open a cement plant on the foot of Nyanda Mountains on the south-eastern part of the city near the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.

The city’s population has grown phenomenally from about 20 000 residents in 1984 to more than 110 000.