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Chitown, Prophet Magaya smoke peacepipe
By ALBERT MASAKA
Chitungwiza Municipality has begun the process of preparing a master plan for the local authority after smoking the peace pipe with one of its biggest private investors since independence, Wistmer Investment.
This follows last night’s meeting that was held at council chambers between councillors and a delegation from Wistmer fronted by Prophet Walter Magaya.
Chitungwiza has been operating without a master plan, a situation that has made it difficult for the council to provide functional town planning and service delivery to residents.
According to today’s statement issued by the Chitungwiza acting town clerk Japson Nemuseso council is going to urgently hold master plan consultative meetings in the community.
“Please welcome our team for the master plan which will be in recognisable bibs.
“We are going to work 24/7 to meet the June 30 deadline and we are confident of doing so.”
Nemuseso added that the preparation of Chitungwiza’s master plan follows a council Resolution number 14, which was passed at the 463rd Ordinary Council Meeting held on March 13, 2020.
Two stakeholder consultation meetings were then held on August 30 and 31, 2022 at Margolis Resort and September 22 the same year at Aquatic Complex with the assistance of the Harare Metropolitan Provincial office.
The cash-strapped council is battling to meet the June 30 deadline set by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for all local authorities in the country to have master plans in place.
The municipality’s last hope was with Prophet Magaya, who also hails from Chitungwiza.
Magaya’s company Wistmer has offered to fund a comprehensive 10-year development master plan aimed at creating a smart and green city centres
The master plan is anchored on nine key essential sectors. The goal is to change Chitungwiza into a self-sustaining modern city.
Wistmer Investments has also proposed to undertake projects, including the building of infrastructure, refurbishment of Chibuku Stadium and the development of a master plan for Chitungwiza and Manyame.