The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
RUSAPE town secretary Mr Solomon Gabaza was named the Megafest Eastern Region Public Sector Leader of the Year at a glittering function held in Mutare last week. Mr Gabaza has immensely transformed Rusape into a stable urban settlement that offers quality services to its residents and ratepayers since his appointment in August 2017.
He has vowed to up his game instead of sitting on his laurels.
Under Mr Gabaza’s stewardship, Rusape last year won three awards — the Best Urban Local Authority (water services), 1st Runner-up Solid Waste Management and Best in Gender Mainstreaming.
The humble administrator joined RTC in 2010 as the administration officer and rose to become its treasurer and eventually the town secretary in 2017. Mr Gabaza is credited for turning around the fortunes of RTC which was marred episodes of maladministration and corruption.
Rusape is one of the few local authorities whose financial books are regularly audited by both the parent ministry and external auditors, and the confidence-building exercise has seen its revenue collection ballooning to 80 percent.
He has set himself an ambitious plan to ensure Rusape is granted municipal status by the end of this year (2019), an initiative that has seen the council so far commissioning a 28-bed polyclinic, revamping the public swimming bath and golf course, constructing an all-weather multi-purpose sporting complex, installing solar powered street and traffic lights.
Investors are also keen to invest, with beverages manufacturing giant Delta recently announcing that it will set up a Chibuku Super plant in the town.
RTC chairman Clr Lyton Sithole said they were priviledged to have an administrator of Mr Gabaza’s caliber as his work ethic and dedication to duty are second to none.
He added that Mr Gabaza is a team player who is driving the town in a right direction.
“He is a dependable and reliable administrator who carries out his duties to the best of his ability. He is a principled, focused and straight forward man. We are blessed to have such an astute town secretary. He is a team player and believes in working with and embracing all stakeholders.
“This award is a testimony of the wonderful work he is doing in Rusape. We are proud to be associated with a man whose works are appreciated by outsiders,” said Clr Sithole.
