GWANDA mayor Thulani Moyo says 2025 was a demanding year for the local authority as government policies pushed councils to improve governance and service delivery.
Speaking to Southern Eye yesterday, Moyo said the introduction of development standards, together with regional and town planning reforms, placed significant pressure on local authorities.
He said the conclusion of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and the launch of its successor, NDS 2, also heightened expectations for councils, including the Matabeleland South capital.
“These policies were not easy as they were aimed at seeing the local authorities improve service delivery and the provision of a roadmap in the implementation of Vision 2030,” Moyo said.
“The year saw a serious turnaround in the running of local authorities.”
One of Gwanda Municipality’s key achievements, he said, was the clearance of its long-standing Zimbabwe National Water Authority legacy debt.
“Over the years, we had seen council property being attached over the debt. There has also been infrastructure development involving modernisation, which is highlighted by our economic blueprint,” Moyo said.
“The potential is very big in Gwanda, a lot of compliance by the residents, including the Zesa Building, which had been neglected over the years, has now been renovated.”
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He said there were several layout plans for new business infrastructure set to take place in Gwanda, such as Zaphalala, Engen Garage, Travel Centre previously known as the Bulawayo Gwanda rank.
Moyo said the area, which was riddled with potholes, would be renovated.
“The council bought four earthmoving machines to improve service delivery. The commissioning of a classroom block is set to start while the construction of a state-of-the-art office complex by the community share trust is also expected this year,” he said.
According to Moyo, Gwanda Municipality crafted by-laws which he said contributed to the improvement of service delivery in the town.
He said in the best practice performance assessment, Gwanda was positioned at 82nd out of 92 councils in the previous year, but the position had improved to 10th in 2025.
“We ran a lot of tenders in the year and we are expecting the delivery of two service delivery pick-up trucks. The tender process is also expected to see the delivery of pre-paid meters that will be installed across town,” he said.
“We want to have a 24-hour water supply system and our tender on the installation of a solar plant to improve water supply and sewage management is ongoing. We are expecting to have this in action by the first quarter of the year.
Moyo said the municipality upgraded 300 vending stalls after the demolition of plastic structures during the construction of the new taxi rank.
“In the year 2026, we are expecting the upgrading of Old Jawanda rank and bringing it back to its heyday. The tiling and construction of sheds to make it a one-stop centre for the transport sector are underway.
“We are also expecting to complete the construction of Spitskop Clinic in the first quarter of the year, and a new landfill will be commissioned at the end of February,” he said.
Moyo said council sold 21 industrial stands in 2025 and they were expecting the new businesses to create more employment for the people of Gwanda.
“We also saw the approval of a 46ha piece of land for the Gwanda Provincial Hospital, which will be commissioned soon, while a layout plan for the Gwanda State University was also approved,” he said. The university will also be issued with title deeds to the land.
Moyo, however, bemoaned some challenges, including a two-month salary backlog.
