Hwange, (New Ziana) – In a bid to help turn Hwange town into a city, a local civic group, the Greater Hwange Residents Trust (GHRT) is pushing for the amalgamation of the Hwange Local Board and the Hwange concession area.

The concession area is under the control of the Hwange Colliery Company, and has seven wards whose councilors are mere political activists with no power to influence development in their areas.

These nclude wards 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

GHRT co-ordinator Fidelis Chima said the civic group was lobbying parliament, among other stakeholders, for the amalgamation of the two areas to ensure Hwange wins city status.

“The seven wards which are in the concession area have councilors who have no power to develop their areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

He said the GHRT had petitioned the Parliament of Zimbabwe over the amalgamation issue, and a position paper had also been given to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“These wards are lagging behind in development, people in these wards pay shop licenses and ZINARA money but no development comes to the area.

The Local Board budget does not even include these wards because they are in the concession area,” said Chima.

He said city status for Hwange, and incorporation of all the wards into the jurisdiction of Hwange Local Board is part of a decentralization drive which will see Hwange town develop and lure investors.

The GHRT is a grassroots movement that gives a collective voice to residents to influence local public policy and service provision.
Indonsakusa