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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Zibagwe Rural District Council chair councillor Chamunogwa Zvishamira who was unanimously re-elected for a second term, has pledged to work towards improving water supply in the district.

Clr Zvishamira’s deputy, Clr Thabisile Moloyi, was also elected unopposed.

Zibagwe RDC has 33 councillors with 29 representing the ruling party.

Clr Zvishamira said the second term came as an opportunity for him to ensure the completion of unfinished projects, chief among them the water reticulation programme.

“We are facing serious water problems at Zhombe and Silobela which are our major growth points.

“We were in the pipeline of engaging Zinwa when we went into elections and I hope to continue from where we left,” he said.

Zinwa’s inefficiency, he said, was crippling service delivery in the district as major projects were tied around water supply.

He said the water connection programme will be accompanied by toilet construction aimed at improving ablution facilities.

“We cannot have a big growth point like Zhombe using blair toilets in this era. We will continue to engage Zinwa that we see how best we can unlock the impasse between us and the water regulating authority because we cannot have toilets when we do not have water,” he said.

Clr Zvishamira said Empress was growing fast and service delivery had also improved as the council connected piped water last year.

Repairs of burst sewerage pipes and waste management will also be done as the rural authority seeks to maintain high standards of hygiene.

“We want to improve the way we handle sewerage pipes and replace older ones.

“We also want to ensure that every centre has proper waste management mechanism that reduces litter and minimises disease contamination,” he said.

The Zhombe councillor said he will also work towards the improvement of revenue collection by the rural authority.

“We have mechanisms in place for the improvement of revenue that we collect per month.”