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 Walter Mswazie,  Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council has secured a $300 000 loan from a local bank to buy a refuse truck as well as eight vehicles for municipal police.

The local authority recently said operations of its municipal police are being hindered by lack of transport while an additional refuse truck will also improve service delivery.

Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said the municipal police department is operating with only one vehicle and two refuse trucks.

“We have resolved to buy eight BAIC Pick Up trucks from Willovale Mazda Motor Industries for use by our municipal police. We are also going to invite tenders for the supply and delivery of a brand new refuse truck soon and we are looking forward to spending about $300 000,” said Clr Fidze.

He said they had negotiated for a loan from a local bank, which he did not name.

The city’s treasurer Mrs Thandiwe Dube said the State Procurement Board had already given the council authority to buy directly from Willovale Mazda Motor Industries.

He said the council was now waiting for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to allocate it foreign currency to use in assembling the cars.

“However, it was reported that the supplier, Willovale Mazda Motor Industries (Pvt) Limited had not yet received the required foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. This also applies to the supply of the vehicles of conditions of service for deputy heads of departments,” said Mrs Dube.

Masvingo City Council attracted the ire of residents, when the local authority recently splashed about $500 000 on senior managers’ state of the art BT50 vehicles.

The residents argued that the cash strapped local authority was giving priority to “flamboyance” ahead of service delivery. —@walterbmswazie3