Chitungwiza Town Council has urged transport operators to use designated picking and dropping points in order to reduce congestion and improve the safety of motorists, commuters, and pedestrians.
In a press statement issued this Friday, 20 October, Chitungwiza Acting Town Clerk Japson Nemuseso bemoaned the huge increase in road traffic offences in the bustling town, and implored bus and kombi operators to use bus stops and termini.
This comes as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a countrywide blitz to curb the rampant violation of traffic rules.
Nemuseso reminded Chitungwiza residents that it is the duty of all stakeholders to create safer and less congested roads. He said:
<blockquote>
The Municipality of Chitungwiza is encouraging all transport operators and commuters operating in its area of jurisdiction to use designated picking and dropping points (Bus stops and termini) when soliciting commuters.
This initiative aims to promote efficient and organized transportation systems while reducing congestion and improving safety. This call has been necessitated by a surge in road traffic offences in the Municipal area.
These offences are a result of the rapid growth of urban populations leading to an increase in traffic congestion and associated problems such as road pollution and road accidents.
One major contributing factor to this issue is the lack of proper management of picking and dropping points for various modes of transportation, including private vehicles, taxis, and public transport.
Please note that designated picking and dropping points provide a structured approach to managing passenger loading and unloading activities.
To this end, we implore all individuals, organizations, and policymakers to join us in promoting the use of designated picking and dropping points.
Together, we can create safer, more sustainable, and less congested roads for everyone.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Chitungwiza Municipality Demands Sanity On Roads

The newly-elected Municipality of Chitungwiza councillors have come up with a 100-day plan to improve the provision of water to residents and improve the sewer reticulation infrastructure among others.
Parts of Chitungwiza have been without council water for many years and raw sewage flows freely on the streets in residential areas.
Below is Chitungwiza’s 100-day plan:
<blockquote>
1. Investment
Identify and promote investment opportunities in commercial, industrial, and residential sectors through targeted advertising and update leases of one hundred and sixty (160) council-rented properties.
2. Water Supply
Allocate funds to improve water supply to 45 mega litres per day and maintenance of distribution networks to minimize non-revenue water.
3. Renovation of Social Amenities
Develop a plan to upgrade social amenities such as schools, clinics, stadiums, markets, and community centers, including repairs, new equipment, and improved infrastructure. Renovation of St Mary’s Hall, the first phase of the Chibuku Stadium upgrade, and refurbishment of two public toilets
4. Digitalization
Implement online and USSD platforms for services such as billing, permits, and citizen engagement to improve efficiency, and enhance public access to information. Fully digitalizing the Housing Department operations, Human Resources operation, creation of debtor database and business license database by the operationalization of ERP systems such as lads and sage VIP.
5. Decongestion of Roads
Identify major traffic congestion hotspots and consider measures such as road widening, intersection redesign, upgrading bus terminus and drop-off zones, and traffic signage improvement. Collaborate with transport authorities and law enforcement to enforce traffic rules and regulations.
6. Health Services
Allocate funds for the renovation and expansion of our four (4) health facilities, including the provision of essential medical equipment.
7. Revenue Collection
Improve billing systems, enhance revenue monitoring, and enforce collection processes.
8. Greening the Municipality
Plant trees and maintain ten (10) municipal parks to improve aesthetics and environmental sustainability and encourage community involvement through awareness campaigns and volunteer programs.
9. Traffic Lights Installation and Roads Rehabilitation
Install traffic lights at Unit C intersection and put Zebra crossing markings on roads near schools. Allocate resources for road rehabilitation and maintenance to roads leading to key social amenities.
10. Improved Sewer Reticulation Infrastructure
Improved sewer reticulation infrastructure by rehabilitating 1.7km at PaGomba and Unit C.
11. Drain clearing
Cleaning and removing sand and debris in open drains and culverts and hauling of stockpiled debris.
12. Waste Management
Clearing of all illegal dumps and increasing distribution of residential waste storage receptacles and fabrication/purchase of one skip dish per month.
13. Audited financial statements
To complete the 2021 and 2022 final accounts by the end of December 2023.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chitungwiza Municipality Announces 100-day Plan

Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Tafadzwa Muguti, has warned Chitungwiza councillors against dabbling in corrupt activities saying they will be arrested if they become wayward.
This comes after Chitungwiza councillors in 2022 gave each other graves which they then sold for US$500 per grave.
Muguti also warned the councillors against having unnecessary workshops in order to milk council coffers by generating allowances. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a policy you had last year where you gave each other graves. Stop It. Free graves are outlined in the office of the Minister of State through social welfare. We have been doing this since 1980.
In all your wards, there are social welfare officers. We know the poor people in your area. What you were doing last year, councillors identifying poor people and deciding who to dish out graves to. You think I did not know that some of you were selling the graves for US$500.
When you see us arresting you, it is because you would not have been transparent with my office. The chamber secretary is there to guide you when you have your meetings.
Don’t override him because he is your lawyer. If he tells you, ‘the law says don’t do this,’ don’t do it. This is coming with a very stern warning.
We don’t do workshops for the ease of generating allowances. We do them to enhance each other’s capacity. So you would rather do one workshop for three days than a scenario where today you are in Kariba and tomorrow you are in Masvingo.
</blockquote>
He also accused some councils of accumulating as much as 500 litres as fuel allowance.
Muguti said his office will not tolerate abuse of office by councillors.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Tafadzwa Muguti Warns Chitungwiza Councillors Against Abuse Of Office

The Zimbabwe National Organization of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has urged the government to consider establishing commissions to run the local authorities of Harare and Chitungwiza.
<a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2023/03/16/residents-call-for-commission-to-run-harare-and-chitungwiza-councils/">ZBC News</a> quoted ZNOART national chairperson Shalvar Chikomba as saying the suspended senior officials from Chitungwiza and Harare continue to receive full salaries and packages, with those acting in their capacities also getting full perks. Said Chikomba:
<blockquote>
The City of Harare and Chitungwiza Municipality has the largest number of acting managers and directors, deliberately the management and the mayor are not holding boards of inquiry for all suspended Executives who continue to collect full salaries and packages whilst at home.
The acting personnel are collecting the full salary and perks of acting as well as the full perks of their current position.
It is unfortunate that the government through the non-functional Local Government Board has allowed this to continue for over three years with all suspended personnel benefiting from home at the expense of residents.
We plead with him to constitute a commission to run the affairs of those two.
</blockquote>
Chikomba also noted that the City of Harare has failed to produce audited financials for the past three years. He said:
<blockquote>
The City of Harare has failed to produce audited financial statements year after year and it’s now three years.
What is shocking is that without any audited financials, they have continued to have budgets approved by the Ministry of Local Government.
Timely publishing of audited financials creates an environment of transparency and accountability, we demand that these be published in the next 90 days.
</blockquote>
Like most urban councils in Zimbabwe, Harare and Chitungwiza are struggling to provide water, repair roads and collect garbage in residential areas and CBDs.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Residents Urged Govt To Appoint Commissions For Harare and Chitungwiza Councils

Chitungwiza Town Council on Friday destroyed illegal structures in the Chidochevanhu Beerhall compound in Unit N, Seke.
Grocery tuck shops, hair salons, and hardware shops, among others, had been erected within the compound.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003174/chitown-demolishes-illegal-structures">NewsDay</a>, George Madongwe, a former council employee who leases Chidochevanhu beerhall, said the demolitions were unjustified. He said:
<blockquote>
Council’s actions were not justified and are a gross violation of human rights. No reasons were given for demolitions as there was no official communication from the council. Valuables worth US$50 000 have been lost.
The council was collecting revenue from these structures as late as November 3, 2022, and there are receipts to support that.
Can the council collect revenue from an illegal structure? There were also engagements with the council regarding the structures.
</blockquote>
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuveya also criticised Chitungwiza Municipality for destroying the structures without notice.
However, acting town clerk Evangelista Machona insisted that the structures were illegal. She said:
<blockquote>
Those were illegal structures because council leases do not allow the adjustment of infrastructure without the council’s approval. But this is what was done.
</blockquote>
Madongwe claimed that the necessary procedures were followed before the structures were erected. He said:
<blockquote>
I constructed the structures after notifying the council. I wanted to raise money to pay their exorbitant bills that I couldn’t pay from selling beer alone.
At the same time, I wanted to increase their revenue base as they would collect licence revenues from the shops.
I have enough evidence to debunk the council narrative that I did anything illegal.
I have requests for bill adjustments, payment plans, payments made and proposals for change of use.
I am a former council employee with special circumstances compared to ordinary leaseholders.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) Chitungwiza chairperson Obert Matsika said the local authority should have acted in 2019 when the structures were built.
The municipality also demolished other illegal structures at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in St Mary’s.

Chitungwiza Municipality Demolishes Illegal Structures

President Mnangagwa’s Special Anti Corruption Unit (SACU) has reportedly set its sights on Chitungwiza businessman Wellington Peyama for his alleged land dealings with the town council, Newsday reports.
SACU is reportedly investigating Peyama’s company,  Peyama Investments which is reportedly fronted by a Zanu PF activist, on how it got a commercial stand measuring 3,8405 hectares without following due process according to the publication.
A memo signed by SACU Head Tabani Vusa Mpofu seen by the publication reportedly reads:
<blockquote>Take note, this matter requires urgent attention. Can PDC (Provincial Development Coordinator) provide the necessary paper work and interview the municipality, provide all records relating to this matter.</blockquote>
According to Newsday Peyama was allocated land by the council in 2008 but it was cancer in 2009 after they discovered the land was reserved for social amenities:
<blockquote>His(Peyama) lease agreement had also an option to purchase and was duly cancelled on the 21st of June 2009, a development that signals an immense abuse of office on the part of council officials</blockquote>
Peyama reportedly took the council to court and the court ordered that he be compensated and the council decided to compensate him by giving him more land. SACU is also investigating how Chitungwiza allocated 141 residential and commercial stands to Peyama measuring 6,5 hectares although the initial claim was for 3,8 hectares.
This came barely a week after<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/02/06/land-barons-to-be-made-to-compensate-home-seekers-chiwenga/"> Vice President CGDN Chiwenga told a meeting in Harare that land barons</a> will have their day in court.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/02/sacu-probes-land-baron-peyama/">Newsday</a>

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