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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent
Rusape Town Council’s ambitious dream of getting municipal status may soon become a reality as Government has appointed a six-member commission to assess its readiness.

Situated about 190 kilometres east of Harare, the local authority attained town status in 1992, and has been pulling out all the stops to ensure it is upgraded to a municipality by next year.

Government, through a Gazette on Friday, announced the members of the commission to assess the preparedness of Manicaland Province’s second-largest urban settlement after Mutare.

The commission will be headed by former Masvingo City Council town clerk, Mr Adolf Kambirai Gusha.

Other members of the commission are Mr Aaron Mazingaiso (deputy director Urban Local Authorities), Ms Lickel Sebele (financial advisor), secretary Mr Leonard Gopozah (principal administrative officer), Engineer Edmore Murimi (engineer) and Ms Rejoice Murwira (principal planning officer).

The Gazette reads: “It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 14 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), that pursuant to the application for municipality status by Rusape Town Council, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works (Cde July Moyo) has appointed the persons in the schedule as members of the commission to assess the town council’s state of preparedness for municipality status.”

Anyone who wishes to lodge a complaint on the application should do so within 30 days, from last Friday.

In an interview, Rusape town secretary Mr Solomon Gabaza said council was determined to meet all the basic requirements critical for attaining municipal status.

“We have achieved most things expected of us to achieve municipal status,” he said. “We strongly believe that we are on course to achieve that status. Our population has gradually increased over the years and is now estimated to be around 35 000  residents.

“We are currently revamping all sporting facilities such as all-weather courts, stadium, a state-of-the-art swimming pool is now complete and we aim to complete the resuscitation of Makoni Country Club by early 2020. The golf course requires major rehabilitation since it has been derelict for nearly a decade.

“A golf course is also a requirement for us to achieve municipal status.”

Mr Gabaza said the town was prioritising major works such as water and sewer reticulation, roads, public lighting, waste management and education.