Stephen Chadenga
In the heart of Zimbabwe, Kadoma City Council is emerging as a symbol of inspiration for investment offering unmatched opportunities across key sectors like mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, small and medium enterprises among others.
Led by visionary leadership of Mayor Nigel Ruzario (leading policy-makers) and Town Clerk, Malvern Dondo (at the helm of council management as chief executive), the City of Gold as Kadoma is popularly known, has armed itself with bold initiatives and strategies to position itself as a highly sought after investment destination.
Recent developments in infrastructure upgrades sewer including roads, water and sanitation, residential and commercial stands, energy supply, health facilities as well as empowerment community programmes are fast creating a perfect environment for the city’s economic growth, expansion and business opportunities.
Mayor Nigel Ruzario said positioning Kadoma as a magnet for investors has been made possible by team work and proactive work ethic by dedicated employees at the local authority as well as “esteemed stakeholders” who include residents, the business community, civil society and informal traders among others.
“You can’t achieve the creme de la creme for Kadoma without the input of all stakeholders who endeavour to place Kadoma as a prime destination for investment not only in Mashonaland West province but the country as a whole,”Ruzario said.
“Our city boasts of being at the centre of the country hence offers strategic connectivity for trade, commerce, transportation linking major cities and markets.
“With the skilled and dedicated workforce at Kadoma council and a supportive business environment our city automatically becomes an attractive hub for investment and development.”
Ruzario said despite the economic challenges faced by local authorities in the country, Kadoma has emerged with innovative projects that have rapidly transformed the city’s business outlook.
“Besides infrastructure upgrades in water and sanitation, roads and health facilities, the local authority has embarked on an expansion drive to develop more than 60 commercial stands,”he said.
“The Baobab commercial stands are a game changer and poised to change the face of the city. We have also encouraged potential investors to consider eco-friendly buildings as part of the local authority’s greening the city initiative.”
The city boss said the state of the art buildings expected at the Baobab commercial stands will not only make Kadoma a commercial hub for the country but an unrivaled destination of choice for investors.
He also said the recently commissioned child healthcare facility in the city that offers health services to children has attracted”unique admiration” as a development set to improve health outcomes for children.
“Built with devolution funds council has established a family child healthcare facility in a bid to improve the healthcare, development and growth of the city,”he said.
“The facility will intergrate the family in the care of children and empower parents and guardians with knowledge and skills that will enable them to care for the child both at the health centre and at home.”
The city mayor also revealed that the local authority has partnered with civic organisations to uplift women and youths with economic empowerment programmes.
“Council has joined hands with Gender Links, a non profit organisation, in women and youths waste management economic empowerment programmes,”he said.
“Together with Gender Links we have promoted waste recyling as a business model that has become a source of livelihood for women and youths.”
Ruzario said the local authority endeavours to improve the environment ease of doing business by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, combat corruption and market the area in a manner that will see investors flock to the city and contribute to its growth potential.
With a vision to be a smart service sanctuary by 2030 as well as mission to provide the community with quality social services through sound corporate governance, Ruzario said Kadoma City Council’s focus is not only on sustainability, innovation and strategic partnerships but re-shaping the city’s service delivery landscape for ratepayers.