By Flata Kavinga
Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) is planning to repossess residential stands that have remained undeveloped at Empress Township in Zhombe, Chief Executive Officer Mr Farayi Desimond Machaya has said.
Presenting his report during a full council meeting, Machaya said the repossession exercise would begin in the first quarter of 2026 and would target stands that have not been developed from the date of offer.
“We have already commenced the exercise of identifying stands which are due for repossession,” Machaya told councillors.
He said once the repossession process is completed, the stands will be reallocated to applicants on the council’s waiting list. Machaya added that the council would later extend the exercise to Zhombe District Service Centre and Crossroads Rural Service Centre.
In the same report, Machaya said council was also planning to prepare valuation rolls for Marchview Park, Tiger Reef Compound and Naseby Estate as part of efforts to improve revenue collection.
“This will see council charging realistic property rates, thus improving revenue,” he said.
On infrastructure development, Machaya said the council had prioritised roads and works in 2026, noting that infrastructure condition has a direct impact on the local economy, the environment and residents’ wellbeing.
He reported that under the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) programme, ZRDC received 3 000 litres of fuel and a financial allocation of ZWG409 158.48 on December 18, 2025, which was used for routine road maintenance.
Machaya said during the first quarter of 2025, council carried out pothole repairs and motorised grading on several roads, including Sherwood Road, Sherwood Siding Road, Sherwood–Sessombi Road and Sultana Road. He said a total of 73 kilometres of roads were maintained through grading and spot gravelling, while bridge repairs on the Shungu–Kwekwe–Mvuma Road were undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Roads and Kwekwe City Council.
On vehicle plant and equipment, Machaya said the motorised grader was due for servicing, while the tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) remained operational. He added that both tipper trucks were now functional following repairs, while a Nissan MP300 single cab was undergoing major body works.
Machaya also highlighted progress on community development projects, saying council tipper trucks had been used to mobilise construction materials for various initiatives. These include the Zibagwe RDC bio-harvest community piggery project in Ward 32, which he said had been completed, and St Paul’s Community project in Ward 9, which is now at plastering stage with support from Senator Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube.
