ED Comes to the Rescue of Ruwa Residents

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has stepped in to halt the attachment and sale of critical assets belonging to the Ruwa Local Board, a move designed to avert a public health crisis that threatened over 300,000 residents. The intervention comes through Statutory Instrument 174 of 2024, invoking Presidential Powers, effectively shielding the local authority's essential service delivery equipment from judicial execution.

The High Court had previously ordered the sale of the board’s movable assets, including refuse compactors, graders, sewer pumps, and motor vehicles, following a legal dispute. The ruling, issued on June 18 this year, threatened to cripple Ruwa's ability to provide basic municipal services, such as refuse collection, road maintenance, and water supply management.

Citing the risk of "catastrophic health hazards," including outbreaks of dysentery, cholera, and typhoid, Mnangagwa enacted emergency regulations to ensure the continued operation of the Ruwa Local Board. In a statement, the government emphasized that the inability to collect refuse, maintain roads, or repair sewerage systems would lead to severe consequences for public health and safety.

The Statutory Instrument places all legal proceedings initiated or concluded against the Ruwa Local Board prior to this intervention on hold. Additionally, the local authority's assets, which were under threat of being seized under High Court Order, have now been released from attachment. These assets will remain with the local authority as part of the government's measures to secure essential public services.

These regulations create a necessity to prevent a major health crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of residents, amid potential public health risks posed by municipal service disruptions.

Ruwa residents can expect uninterrupted services as the local board regains control of its vital equipment, securing water supply, refuse collection, and road maintenance activities.