Cuthbert Mashoko
Centre News Hub
RUTENGA — Mwenezi Rural District Council (MRDC) has engaged residents of Wards 14 and 18 in a bid to improve transparency, accountability, and service delivery at grassroots level.
The engagement meetings were held at the Council Hall, Rutenga Growth Point on 18 August.
Council Chairperson, Alderman Admire Matutu, thanked residents for turning out in large numbers.
“I would like to thank you for availing yourselves for this important engagement which gives us a platform to exchange ideas and improve service delivery,” Matutu said.
He presented on the state of waste management in the district and raised concern over business operators without ablution facilities.
“As MRDC, we are worried that several shop operators do not have functional ablution facilities. We have liquor shop operators who lock toilets for their clients, yet they sell them alcohol. This we condemn, since it is one of the contributing factors to the menace we see in our urban settlements.”
Matutu also announced an improved garbage collection schedule.
“In an effort to ensure a clean and hygienic environment, Council is now collecting garbage in the suburbs every Tuesday. Every house should have a garbage collection bin.”
The Chairperson further raised alarm over rural homesteads without toilets.
“We are deeply concerned with rural homesteads that do not have toilets and use the bush to respond to the call of nature.
This poses a real danger to our communities as we sit on a health time bomb. On that note, as Council, we are giving the concerned residents an ultimatum to start constructing toilets.”
MRDC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Albert Chivanga, stressed adherence to the law on land allocation.
“May I make it clear to you that Government is totally against land barons and Sabhuku deals. Land ownership should be done in accordance with the law. As such, local authorities will not hesitate to demolish mansions that are built outside the confines of the law,” Chivanga warned.
He said transparency remains central to MRDC operations.
“Our operations as a Government entity are transparent and by the book. Any queries, you are free to bring them to our offices, and we are prepared to help.”
With Mwenezi set to host the 2027 National Independence Celebrations, Chivanga urged residents to position themselves economically.
“Since Mwenezi is going to host the 2027 National Independence Celebrations, this is an opportunity for residents of Mwenezi to make money. Start preparing for the event. Don’t be left out,” he challenged.
Acting District Development Coordinator, Mr. Witness Masukume, welcomed MRDC’s move to take meetings to the wards.
“The move by MRDC shows beyond any shadow of doubt that it values the input of residents who are the major stakeholders of its business. This is also in sync with His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s ‘Leaving no place and no one behind’ mantra,” Masukume said.
Memory Moyo, a resident of Ward 18, hailed the outreach.
“I am pleased that Council officials saw fit to leave the comfort of their offices to meet the residents and engage us on issues that promote development. This is accountability,” Moyo said.
MRDC also educated residents on the WhatsApp Residents’ Scorecard, a platform that allows the public to rate the performance of the local authority on service delivery issues.
