The city has been voted the cleanest in the country. Deputy Mayor George Jerrison said the council was committed to improve the quality of service delivery to its ratepayers, despite continuous interference into itsoperations by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo.
Jerrison said although the MDC-T took over control of the local authority with its coffers dry, the administration was working hard to improve the lives of local residents.
“We have improved refuse collection in the city and we are in the process of upgrading our road network,” said Jerrison.
He applauded the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for Providing a $1 million revolving fund to the local authority.
This was channelled towards repairing depleted refuse trucks and upgrading the water plant.
Mutare is the first local authority to receive such a grant from the Sweden organisation since the formation of a coalition government between MDC formations and Zanu (PF) in 2009.
Jerrison thanked NGOs such as Shandira Mutare which helped residents with tools such as hoes, picks and shovels to clean up their residential areas.
Residents interviewed by this paper expressed gratitude to the MDC-T council for working tirelessly to bring back Mutare to its rightful status as `Jewel of the East`.
SIDA Country Director, Goran Engstrand, said: “The procured vehicles should be used for their intended purpose and they should be guarded jealously”. The city is expected to repay the loan in two years.
Post published in: News