Hwange residents want concession areas incorporated
Sibongile Dube
Hwange district residents are hoping that the newly elected councillors will push for the synchronisation of the Hwange Local Board with private local authorities to ease administration.
Hwange town is under the jurisdiction of the Hwange Local Board which has 15 wards. Even though it falls under the HLB, the concession area of Hwange town is administered by other privately owned local authorities such as Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
Residents are unhappy with the failure of the previous council to find common ground with with the companies in charge of concession areas.
“The councillors from the previous term failed to almagamate the town. We expect the new councillors to ensure the incorporation of concession areas and make sure that the town gains city status.
“The development of the town to city status will help to lure more investors who would develop the local economy.” said Richard Mumba, a Hwange resident.
Victoria Falls is the only city in Matabeleland North Province.
This publication has it on good authority that only wards 1-7 jurisdiction of HLB have previously received devolution funds. The remaining wards in the concession areas managed by the HCCL, NRZ and ZPC have not been receiving the devolution funds.
Greater Whange Residents Trust Coordinator, Fidelis Chima said it is necessary to incorporate the Hwange Local Board with other authorities for development purposes.
“Hwange Local Board covers the concession area but when it comes to revenue generation, the concession area is not contributing anything to the coffers of Hwange local Board.
“The councillors in the concession area do not have any authority since service delivery is in the hands of private companies such as Hwange Colliery Company Limited, Zimbawe Power Company (ZPC), so we expect that these companies give power to HLB when it comes to service delivery,” said Chima.
Chima also stressed that HLB needs to work hand in hand with communities for development purposes.
“The councillors should work closely with the community for the purposes of improving democracy and also to improve service delivery. The moment residents realise that they are working hand in glove with councillors, they will get some sense of ownership in terms of projects development,”he said.
The Ward 7 Councilor Peterson Ncube said it was high time the councillors insisted on incorporating the concession areas run by companies.
“Its about time we synchronize the Hwange Local Board and the Hwange Colliery Company Limited. It is high time we incorporate the two so that we grow a city that talks to the demands of the residents,” he said.
Earlier this week, the 15 elected councillors for Hwange were sworn. These are Ward 1 George Mpala, Ward 2 Fani Chirwa, Ward 3 Bryn Chikumbo, Ward 4 Morrison Mafa, Ward 5 Prince Shava, Ward 6 Mulungisi Zhanero, Ward 7 Peterson Ncube, Ward 8 Mthulisi Bvute,Ward 9 Rodah Sibanda, Ward 10 Samuel Tshuma,Ward 11 Veronica Nyathi,Ward 12 Jonathan Nyathi, Ward 13 Bekimpilo Ncube,Ward 14 Albert Vendas Sibanda,Ward 15 Elphas Owner Dhlamini.
Sera Phiri, Ellen Zulu,Sandra Moyo,Chiratidzo Mudimba and Anastacia Nyathi were sworn in under the Women’s Quota.
Hwange district is run by three local authorities namely the Hwange Local Board (HLB), Hwange Rural District Council and the Victoria Falls Municipality.
