By William Vundla and Peter Dube

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart has applauded Khaya Arts Productions for taking part in clean-up and anti-drug abuse awareness campaigns held at the Tshabalala Open Arena on Friday.

The campaigns dubbed Bukeka Bulawayo were held under the theme, A Clean mind, A Clean Environment and Healthy Body.

The event kick-started with residents cleaning the area before live performances from Khaya Arts Productions members.

In a speech read on his behalf by ward 11 councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, Coltart said it was everyone’s duty to ensure the environment was clean.

”Cleanliness is next to godliness and it inspires a sense of pride and ownership in our city. It is the duty of each and every one of us to instil this mindset in every resident of Bulawayo, young and old,” Coltart said.

“Our environment is our home, it is where we live, work and play. A clean environment is not just a matter of aesthetics, it is a matter of health and safety. By keeping our streets and public spaces clean, we reduce the spread of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea, improve air quality and create a more pleasant and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. “

The event was graced by representatives from Kingdom Blue, Tshabalala Residents Association, Environmental Management Agency and Ingutsheni Hospital.

 Khaya Arts Productions director, Future Dube said the purpose of the event was to encourage residents of the City of Bulawayo to uphold the habit of cleanliness.

Other performers at the event included Macala and his dancers, Ras Taken, Khami Prison Group, Ezamachazment, Lucy the Poet and King Addiza.

By Peter Dube

BULAWAYO city’s road works have been hampered by a shortage of United States dollars as contractors are demanding to be paid in forex, mayor David Coltart has claimed.

Coltart told Southern Eye in an interview that council is struggling to procure road maintenance materials due to funding constraints.

“Though there is an issue of suppliers demanding payment in US dollars, funding for road works remains a challenge to bring the city’s road network to a fair condition,” he said.

The mayor said funding for road works came from vehicle parking management proceeds, but this was not enough to fix the city’s bad roads.

“For Zinara [Zimbabwe National Road Administration]-funded projects where disbursements are in local currency, council is left with no option, but to approach the second best contractors or even re-do procurement. This results in delays in the utilisation of Zinara funds,” Coltart said

“Council has tried other strategies which include adopting a road policy, but there are no takers, which is attributed to the cost involved.

“Road maintenance is expensive as it costs approximately US$500 000 to construct one kilometre of a single carriageway that is nine metres wide.”

Bulawayo’s road network continues to deteriorate due to ageing and lack of timely maintenance owing to resource constraints.

A number of Bulawayo roads have remained in bad shape despite the government launching the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project (ERRP) in 2021.

ERRP was launched after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the country’s roads a national disaster.

At least 65 major roads across Bulawayo are earmarked for rehabilitation under the ERRP2 at an approximate cost of US$625 million.

BCC is on record saying 70% of its road network has outlived its lifespan, hence council requires about US$700 million to fix the roads.

Published on The Chronicle

BCC in partnership with Enock Construction and Earth Moving Equipment last Friday commissioned 115 fully serviced stands in Mahatshula East suburb as part of phase two of the project. 

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) in partnership with Enock Construction and Earth Moving Equipment last Friday commissioned 115 fully serviced stands as part of the phase two Mahatshula East housing project aimed at alleviating the city’s housing backlog.

The commissioning of stands marks a significant milestone in addressing the housing needs of the community and enhancing sustainable urban development in the region.

Speaking at the commissioning event, city mayor, Councillor David Coltart said the partnership between BCC and Enock Construction and Earth Moving Equipment has delivered quality housing solutions to the residents.

“We are always happy when we partner with private developers to commission the stands as they are a testament that the city’s initiative of public private partnerships in housing development is yielding good results,” he said.

“The Mahatshula East stands are being serviced under an arrangement and we were here last year for the commissioning of the first phase.” Clr Coltart said the first phase of 100 stands and 255 stands have been commissioned.

“It is our hope in the near future that we will be together as we commission the third and fourth phases of the 670 residential stands for Mahatshula East suburb in partnership with Enock Construction and Equipment Hire Pvt Ltd,” he said.

Clr Coltart said the city’s vision was to provide quality housing to its citizens as it strives to contribute to the quality of life of the residents and ensure satisfaction with the place of living.

“It’s because of this vision that we are focused on ensuring that in the provision of housing, we provide stands that are fully serviced with water, sewerage, roads and public lighting,” he said.

“In our quest for housing development and in light of the effects of climate change, we are now exploring new technologies that will increase the level of sustainability in the future of our housing projects.

“In projects such as these, we should make a deliberate effort to plant trees and green the areas to try and replace the ones that we destroyed in this process and even when you are now constructing your houses and becoming Mahatshula East residents, may I urge you to focus on greening the areas,” Clr Coltart said.

He said key to the city’s green initiative is the use of design solutions and innovative technologies that not only maintain the aesthetics of housing design but also balance with sustainability.

Clr Coltart said the focus is to now develop green building norms and regulations that guarantee sustainability of housing throughout its life cycle from design to construction and operation.

“In this ,we urge you to partner with us as residents in combining conventional architecture and innovative technologies to obtain an optimal balance and ensure sustainable housing for the City of Bulawayo,” he said.
“In our mandate for housing development, we have to provide 3 000 units per year, which is not an easy feat in light of the harsh economic environment.

“The city strives to meet this target, which is a drop in the ocean, taking into consideration the ever ballooning housing waiting list, which stands at over 125 000.”

While the focus of the local authority and Government alike has been to provide support for low income housing, there is a need to have the necessary financial incentives to provide these, said Clr Coltart.

He said Bulawayo in the past has tried this through loans with sub market rates, however the unavailability of these poses a challenge.

“Despite these challenges, the City of Bulawayo notes that housing provision shows economic development and a reduction in poverty hence the need to try and match housing demand and housing delivery.

“While housing purchases are costly for individuals, they become the most valuable asset owned and also require housing financing for purchase and construction,” said Clr Coltart.

He said housing provision and the financial sector have a symbiotic relationship, which contributes to economic growth and also helps the financial sector grow.

“We need to develop sustainable housing for sustainable cities through the design of sustainable housing policies and practical actions. Our policies for the future of Bulawayo are focused on a holistic approach that recognises that housing is both physical and socio-cultural,” said Clr Coltart.

On how the local authority is dealing with the ballooning housing waiting list, BCC corporate communications manager, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said all residents registered in the housing waiting list can benefit from stand projects provided they meet the sale conditions of the development partner.

“We have engaged many development partners to help council expedite stands provision,” said Mrs Mpofu. She said in the case of the Mahatshula East stands, applicants are advised to approach the development partners’ offices, Enock Construction and Earth Moving Equipment, regarding stand prices and the sizes on offer.

“Generally, this is a Medium density housing area with stand sizes averaging 600m2,” she said. The 115 serviced stands in phase two of the Mahatshula East Housing Project have been designed to meet modern living standards while promoting a sense of community and belonging, among the residents.

Each stand is equipped with essential services such as water, electricity and road access, providing a conducive environment for residential development.

By Tinei Tuhwe

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has spoken out against the treatment of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa, describing her plight as “a personal tragedy” and “a national disgrace.”

In a scathing X post, Coltart blamed the judiciary for denying Mubaiwa foreign medical treatment, despite her local doctors’ recommendations.

“Marry Mubaiwa’s plight is a personal tragedy but in addition a national disgrace.

“Our judiciary is particularly to blame.

“Let us never forget that Ms Mubaiwa’s medical condition was resolvable had she been allowed foreign medical treatment which her local doctors told the courts was necessary.

“Our courts’ refusal to show basic mercy and grant bail in the interests of justice remains a dark stain on our entire judiciary,” he said

Mubaiwa has undergone a life-altering surgery, having her leg amputated due to gangrene, a complication of her underlying condition. Her right arm was amputated in September 2022.

Her condition, acute lymphoedema, has led to severe abscesses and open wounds on her arms and legs and despite her critical condition, the courts have repeatedly denied her request to seek medical treatment abroad, citing her ongoing trial for attempted murder and other charges.

Mubaiwa remains hospitalized at a private facility in the capital, sparking widespread debate and outrage over the handling of her case.

Coltart emphasized the importance of justice, citing the Bible and history as examples of the consequences of disregarding justice.

“The cross – upon which Jesus was crucified- is a constant reminder of one of the Lord’s most important characteristics: His desire for justice.

“If we treat this with disdain, if we don’t fear God by being dismissive about His desire for justice in all facets of life, we open ourselves to His wrath.

“This applies to all of us as individuals but it also applies to Nations.

“Both the Bible and history are replete with countless examples of how the Lord not only desires justice but also obtains justice in His time and using His methods.

“So Ms Mubaiwa’s plight may seem of no relevance to us.

“But we ignore this shocking example of injustice at our own peril.”

By Newsday 

OVER the years, the nation has been promised that Bulawayo will undergo massive re-industrialisation.

In that regard, nothing has moved.

Over a decade or so ago, efforts were supposedly made to resuscitate Bulawayo industries through the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund, which was disbursed starting from 2011, but the fund did not have a significant impact.

Before that, government launched the US$70 million Zimbabwe Economic and Trade Revival Facility, which did little to change the fortunes of second largest city of the country.

In fact, companies in Zimbabwe’s once industrial hub have been either closing shop, retrenching or moving to other places away from the city, especially settling in the capital city, further worsening Bulawayo’s economic performance.

Often referred to as the country’s industrial hub, the city’s current economic and industrial performance no longer portray such a picture.

Many of the factories have been turned into worship centres.

Promises to revive Bulawayo industries have been nothing short of a pie in sky.

On June 1, the city turned 130 years after being declared a town on June 1, 1894.

For what once was a heavy industrial site, life has been snuffed out and the informal sector has taken over.

The industrial site now represents a ghost town.

But considering economies of scale, an informal sector contributes far less than a formal one.

The economy of the city has diminished to unacceptable levels over the past two decades.

Claims have been made that Bulawayo is not alone in this predicament since other cities across the country are also facing similar challenges.

But authorities are losing sight of the fact that Bulawayo was heavily industrialised, hence was bound to suffer more.

Speaking in April this year while welcoming visitors and exhibitors at the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, the city’s mayor David Coltart said: “One of the reasons why the ZITF was established in Bulawayo was due to the fact that it was Zimbabwe’s industrial capital and the industrial hub of southern African and our vision is to restore that status.

“We have a massive task ahead of us and we are pleased that you have come to the ZITF and it is our hope that by coming, you will see the city’s potential.”

We believe it’s not too late to return the city to its industrial hub status for as long as the leadership has the resolve to do.

Published on CAJ News

The mayor of Zimbabwe’s second largest city – Bulawayo, David Coltart has warned the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) followers not to make the country unattractive investment destination by overzealously calling for president Emmerson Mnangagwa to go for the ‘unconstitutional’ third term in office.

ZANU-PF Masvingo province is advocating for Mnangagwa to go for the third term when his second and final term in office expires in 2028.

Coltart reminded the overexcited ZANU-PF elite that the country’s constitution should not be tempered in order to satisfy interests of individual leaders at the expense of the nation.

“The two term presidential limit in the Zimbabwe Constitution was overwhelmingly agreed to by millions of Zimbabweans in 2013 and passed in a referendum which was voted on by over 80% of the electorate. It is supplemented by another clause in the Constitution which states that no incumbent can benefit from a constitutional amendment,” Coltart said.

He added: “These clauses (of the constitution) were debated right across Zimbabwe and are the result of a deeply held belief that Presidents should not remain in office too long. It is reinforced by the fact that in its 44 year old history Zimbabwe has only had two Presidents and that is one of the key reasons why our Nation has performed well below its true potential.”

Coltart said it was sad that the country’s first President Robert Mugabe remained in office too long until he “was old” and “decrepit”, a development he claimed caused some leaders within the ruling ZANU-PF to remove him unconstitutionally through a coup.

“Coups cast Nations in a very poor light internationally. Had Mugabe gone early and made way for younger blood we would never have had (not encountered) this setback,” he said.

Coltart said any move to amend these clauses to suit interests of an individual would not only be a grave violation of the country’s constitution, but condemn Zimbabwe into a “banana republic” and “an unsafe investment destination.”

“It doesn’t matter how this debate is camouflaged – it is wrong, dangerous and all patriots need to speak out against it (third term in office.) We should rather now be concentrating on what policies we need as a Nation to deliver clean water to citizens, ensure a safe, healthy environment, rapidly expand foreign investment and create millions of jobs,” Coltart said.

Ilos Nyoni concurred with the opposition mayor saying: “It is indeed vital that the constitution is observed and respected as it was a product of consultation and approval by the majority of the people. Amendments that are designed to suit desires of one individual are unacceptable.”

By Silas Nkala

Bulawayo is determined to revive its industry and restore its status as Zimbabwe’s industrial hub, the city’s mayor David Coltart has said.

Welcoming, on Tuesday, visitors and exhibitors at the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo, Coltart said: “One of the reasons why the ZITF was established in Bulawayo was due to the fact that it was Zimbabwe’s industrial capital and the industrial hub of southern African and our vision is to restore that status.

“We have a massive task ahead of us and we are pleased that you have come to the ZITF and it is our hope that by coming you will see the city’s potential.”

This year’s exhibition is running under the theme: Innovation the Catalyst to Industrialisation and Trade. It will be officially opened by Kenyan President William Ruto.

Coltart called on visitors to Zimbabwe’s second largest city to understand its history, people, culture and arts.

He said the authorities in the city understood that attracting investors depended on certain prerequisites being met which included reliable water supplies.

“As we are all aware, due to climate change and the El Niño effect, the City of Bulawayo and the entire southern Africa region are facing one of the worst droughts ever.

“We face a major challenge in water delivery. Our first priority in the coming years is to expand our water resources. We are looking at the construction of a new water supply dam and other augmentation projects that will allow us to guarantee our residents, stakeholders and investors adequate water supplies,” he said.

Coltart indicated that the city was also looking into ensuring cleanliness and sanitation.

“Unfortunately, in the last few years, our city has lost its status of being one of the cleanest cities in Africa. Our vision is to restore the status and we are working towards rehabilitating our sewerage works and we are also looking at a waste management facility that can tackle the litter that degrades Bulawayo,” he said.

“We are working on informal markets located in the periphery of the city centre. We have started with Egodini informal trading market and we are expanding to other centers around the periphery of the city into suburban areas, with the anticipation that it will give hope to the informal sector and enable the formal sector to also flourish.”

Published on Report Focus News

As Zimbabwe anticipates the introduction of a new structured currency, economists caution that while it may diversify saving avenues for citizens, it may not sufficiently tackle the nation’s hyperinflation crisis. The crux of the issue lies in governmental manipulation of financial mechanisms. Scheduled for unveiling this Friday alongside the 2024 Monetary Policy Statement by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, John Mushayavanhu, the proposed structured currency faces skepticism from economic experts.

Stevenson Dhlamini, an economist and lecturer at Bulawayo’s National University of Science and Technology, underscores the pivotal role of confidence in currency success. Dhlamini notes a lack of positive confidence in Zimbabwe’s financial sector among citizens, indicating a potential hurdle for the new currency’s acceptance. However, he acknowledges the stability exhibited by existing structured alternative financial assets like gold coins and Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), suggesting a possibility of similar reception for the structured currency.

Dhlamini emphasizes that the ultimate impact of the structured currency remains uncertain until operational details are disclosed. He highlights its dual function as a medium of exchange and an asset, which could broaden saving options for ordinary citizens, provided it’s implemented transparently and with clear accountability measures.

Echoing concerns, economist Future Msebele warns against potential manipulation of the new currency by “saboteurs,” casting doubt on its effectiveness. Msebele advocates for full dollarization to stabilize the capital market, aiming to mitigate capital outflows and balance of payments crises.

Criticism extends to the coordination between monetary and fiscal policies, with calls for coherence and alignment between the two spheres. Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart underscores the paramount importance of rebuilding public trust in regulatory institutions for any currency reform to succeed, emphasizing transparency and professionalism as indispensable pillars.

In essence, while the structured currency proposal offers hope for economic stabilization, economists stress the imperative of addressing underlying issues of trust and policy coherence for lasting solutions to Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation woes.

By Jerssie Mpofu

ILLEGAL night vendors have been accused of littering streets in the Bulawayo central business district (CBD) with associations representing registered informal traders calling on law enforcement agencies to take action.

Bulawayo has recorded an increase in night-time informal trading, especially in the CBD where vendors are operating from street pavements.

Zanu PF activists have been accused of allocating illegal vending bays in the CBD and collecting fees from the vendors.

The council has been complaining that it is receiving little in revenues from vendors in licensing fees as many were operating illegally.

Municipal police have been seen confiscating wares from the illegal vendors with some confrontations turning into violent running battles.

This publication gathered that some vendors now preferred to operate after hours and illegally when municipal police would have knocked off.

Bulawayo Streetwise Informal Traders Association director Percy Mcijo said his organisation was against all sorts of illegal vending, day or night.

 “We are having a situation where vendors are avoiding following the bylaws and we urge the council to take action and arrest these people,” Mcijo said.

Mcijo said their investigations showed that the majority of night vendors were not registered.

“Vendors, who are registered with any association, don’t operate during the night,” he said.

“We don’t encourage night vending as we would not know what would be sold as a majority of vendors now sell drugs.

“We urge citizens to be law abiding, follow the set bylaws, be formal in their operations and subscribe to the set regulations.”

Mcijo encouraged night vendors to register and operate within the bylaws.

Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi said city fathers were against any form of night vending.

“Council is aware of the night vendors, publicity and engagements are being done to resolve this coupled with security operations to clear the illegal vendors,” Mutangi said.

“Night vending is indeed illegal and we urge citizens to stop the practice and abide by the set bylaws.

“We seek to bring an end to illegal vending and provide vending bays for fruit and vegetables, new and used clothing in various points in and around the CBD at the convenience of the citizens  and ensuring that we decongest the city and enhance cleanliness of our CBD.”

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said they were not aware of the illegal night vendors

“Police are not aware of night vendors that are taking pavement places throughout the central business district and I would not be able to comment on an issue that I don’t know,” Ncube said.

Recently, the council faced resistance in its attempts to force vendors to vacate the streets and operate from the recently opened Egodini bus terminus.

The city’s pavements and streets have been taken over by an influx of vendors, some of them  coming all the way from Harare.

City fathers have complained that the city is now one of the dirtiest as a result because of littering mainly by the illegal vendors.

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart recently led a clean-up campaign in the city, expressing concerns over littering by illegal vendors.

However, months after he came in, the vendors have remained in the city and their numbers have even swollen.

Coltart was unreachable for comment on Friday.

Published on Bulawayo24 News

Government has pledged to assist Bulawayo City Council (BCC) ease the city’s unrelenting acute water shortages.

Late last month, government gave BCC ZWL$7 billion to push such water projects as the Glass Block Dam and Nyamandlovu aquifer, some of the sources of raw water for the city.

Addressing journalists in Bulawayo this week, Local Government minister Winston Chitando said government was fully committed to addressing Bulawayo’s water crisis.

“There was a disbursement of ZWL$ 6,9 billion at the end of February for the City of Bulawayo as part of devolution funds. Some of that money is required in local currency and some of it in foreign currency depending on the nature of what the local authority projects to be implemented,” he said.

“For example, if they want to buy cement they will use that local currency, but if they want to purchase inputs from outside the country they will now need to go to the foreign exchange mechanism to get money through the central bank. We are going to have a regular conduct to see how we as a ministry of governance can then play that interface role with the Finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to ensure we have critical situations like we have here whereby we try to facilitate [on] foreign currency.”

Chitando added that government will ensure that there is a short term solution to the water situation in Bulawayo.

“The short term measure to address the water situation in Bulawayo, firstly is the security arrangements at Nyamandlovu that will be implemented. There is need to source for the US$14m required and BCC has a number of partners to participate in funding the project-we will assist the city to get foreign currency to address the water situation in the short term period,” said Chitando.

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart confirmed that the local authority received the money, but is facing challenges in securing foreign currency.

“That money is already in the council’s accounts. The problem is that it is in local currency, we have gone out to contract private companies for some of the work which needs to be done, for example, the rehabilitation of Umzingwane and Inyankuni pump stations,” he said.

“We don’t manufacture these large pumps in the country, hence need to be imported. The companies demand payment in foreign currency, that is the problem.”