By Cordilia Ncube

The US$120,000 Mbizo 15 Rates Hall, funded by Kwekwe City Council, was officially opened on Tuesday, by Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube. The new facility aims to bring essential services closer to residents of Mbizo 15 and surrounding suburbs, eliminating the inconvenience of long travel distances for bill payments and fault reporting.

The hall was constructed entirely using council funds and is expected to serve residents in Mbizo 15, 18, 21, and 22.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Ncube commended Kwekwe City Council for its efforts to enhance service delivery.

“I am generally satisfied with Kwekwe City’s level of service delivery, measured in terms of speed of service, attendance to sewer leakages, burst water pipes, frequency of refuse collection, approval of building plans, issuance of business permits, and licenses, among others,” he said.

He said the construction of the Mbizo 15 rates hall aligns with the government’s mandate for local authorities to bring essential services closer to the people, fostering convenience and promoting community well-being.

Minister Ncube encouraged the council to consider constructing additional revenue halls in other areas such as Mbizo 6, 7, and 8 to further reduce travel distances for residents accessing municipal services.

The minister urged Kwekwe City Council and other local authorities in the Midlands Province to scale up their efforts in addressing key areas of public concern, including the provision of vending stalls, public toilets, clinics, and other critical services.

“I also call upon local authorities to intensify street lighting, provision of vending stalls, drainage, and pothole filling to improve residents’ quality of life,” Ncube added.