By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe Acting Town Clerk Athanas Chidzurira says the local authority has spent a cumulative US$6.3 million on service delivery improvements under the 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, with several major equipment purchases still under tender as part of efforts to strengthen municipal operations.
Presenting at the City of Kwekwe 2025–2030 Strategic Planning Workshop in Kwekwe, Chidzurira said the spending covered the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date, adding that council was pushing to conclude outstanding procurements aimed at boosting essential services.
“It may also please you to hear that we have other items still on tender, specifically with a view to improving service delivery for our citizens,” he said.
Among the major items being procured are a backhoe loader budgeted at US$405,000, a motorized grader, a 20,000-litre motorized water bowser and a platform vehicle for public lighting.
Chidzurira said acquiring this equipment was critical to enabling departments to “efficiently provide service delivery to the residents.”
He noted however, that the city’s development trajectory over the current planning cycle had not been without difficulties. Delayed disbursement of devolution and ZINARA funds had constrained the timely implementation of projects, while persistent vandalism of sewer infrastructure continued to trigger service disruptions and inflate maintenance costs.
Chidzurira also cited the need to replace obsolete machinery at the city’s waterworks, saying most suppliers of heavy equipment demanded foreign currency, complicating procurement.
Despite the obstacles, he said the municipality had taken a proactive approach under the leadership of Town Clerk Dr. Lucia Mkandhla.
“Because we are not a crybaby, we don’t want to dwell much on the challenges,” he said, adding that the council had been “trained to think outside the box” in navigating a difficult operating environment.
He welcomed the relative stability of the ZiG currency, saying it had helped improve planning and aligned with government’s target of having a sole local currency by 2030.
Chidzurira also highlighted the city’s recent national recognition, saying Kwekwe was voted Zimbabwe’s best local authority in 2024, with Mkandhla named the country’s best town clerk. He urged stakeholders to continue supporting council efforts in order to maintain those achievements.
“With your support we will definitely retain that position,” he said.
