Gvt revives Nyatsime Joint Committee

By ALBERT MASAKA

LOCAL Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe has directed Chitungwiza mayor Rosaria Mangoma and Manyame Rural District Council chairperson to resuscitate the Manyame-Chitungwiza Joint Committee in order to resolve the long drawn housing saga.

Garwe said this today in Parliament while responding to a question from St Mary’s MP Brighton Mazhindu.

Mazhindu had asked the minister on the measures government was taking to ensure that residents who bought stands from Chitungwiza Municipality under the Nyatsime Housing scheme in 2007 will build their homes.

Several efforts by government have failed to resolve the issue that has led the area to be one of the most underdeveloped urban areas in the country with many people drowning while attempting to cross the river during the rain season.

 “Whilst queries are duly directed to the Ministry, and the two Local Authorities in question (Chitungwiza Municipality and Manyame Rural District Council), the delays in addressing the issues emanating from Nyatsime are primarily due to the dormancy of the Manyame Chitungwiza Joint Committee.

Garwe said government will ensure that the Joint Committee functions in accordance with SI 211 of 2021. 

The area under the Nyatsime Housing Scheme falls within a zone jointly managed by Chitungwiza Municipality and Manyame Rural District Council.

The six-member committee made up of three councillors from each local authority was set up by former minister of Local Government July Moyo in 2021.

 The Committee’s  primary purpose is to handle issues emanating from management of six farms which fall within shared territory of the two councils.

At law, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works may, in terms of Section 224 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), as read with Section 83 of the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13], establish a Joint Committee to look into the joint management of land or an area of joint interest. 

 The farms are Braemar, Longlands, Cawdor, Edinburg, Tantallon and Dunnottar.

“It is evident that the Joint Committee has not been dealing with issues such as the Nyatsime case, let alone siting, as expected.

“Whilst the Ministry stands ready to support the Joint Committee, it is the obligation of the Joint Committee to resolve issues raised by  beneficiaries of the Nyatsime Housing Scheme since they fall within the  boundaries of the farms stated in SI 211 of 2021” added Garwe.