By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE, 6 July 2026 – The City of Mutare has commissioned a series of infrastructure projects, including an AI-powered smart traffic light system, a new computer laboratory, classroom blocks and service delivery vehicles, in a move aimed at improving education, road safety and municipal service delivery.
The projects, officially commissioned on Saturday, include a computer laboratory at Chikanga Primary School, two new classroom blocks at Hobhouse Primary School, newly installed smart traffic lights at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Way and Herbert Chitepo Street, as well as newly acquired council vehicles and equipment.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, hailed the locally developed Hybrid Smart Traffic Light System as proof that Zimbabwe possesses the talent and expertise to develop world-class technological solutions.
“We must stop looking to China, Hong Kong or Silicon Valley for technological solutions when Zimbabwe has talented young men and women capable of delivering equally innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions,” Mugadza said.
“I firmly believe the answer is no. The innovation is here. The talent is here. All that is required is confidence in our own people.”
The AI-powered traffic management system, developed and installed by Kwekwe Polytechnic in partnership with the City of Mutare, features intelligent traffic flow management, real-time traffic density adjustment, automated vehicle counting, number plate recognition for traffic offence detection and 24-hour high-definition surveillance.
The minister described the project as a practical demonstration of the Second Republic’s development philosophy of “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (A country is built by its own people), urging local authorities and private companies to work closely with Zimbabwean universities and polytechnics.
“Challenge them with your problems. Give them the opportunity to innovate. I have every confidence that they will work in partnership with industry to deliver solutions that compete with the very best anywhere in the world,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said the commissioned projects form part of the City’s long-term development strategy aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises infrastructure development, digital transformation and improved service delivery.
“The projects we commission today are not stand-alone interventions. They are deliberate, budgeted outputs of our strategy and a direct response to Government’s call for local authorities to modernise infrastructure, strengthen local economic development and embrace innovation,” said Chafesuka.
He said the computer laboratory at Chikanga Primary School and the classroom blocks at Hobhouse Primary School were funded through the City’s Education Levy, introduced in 2025 to improve educational infrastructure at council schools.
According to Chafesuka, council has already earmarked additional resources for several projects, including a double-storey classroom block at Dangamvura, new classroom blocks at Gimboki, a science and computer laboratory at Murahwa Hills Primary School, and a new primary school in the Beira Corridor.
He added that the partnership with Kwekwe Polytechnic has strengthened council’s collaboration with institutions of higher learning, including Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Africa University, Midlands State University and the University of Zimbabwe, to support innovation and infrastructure development.
Council also revealed plans to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Mutare Polytechnic to explore mini-hydro power generation and other renewable energy initiatives for municipal operations.
Chafesuka said the smart traffic light project forms part of a broader programme to digitise council services, which includes the installation of CCTV cameras at council facilities and the rollout of the Local Authority Digital System (LADS) to improve efficiency, accountability and transparency.
He noted that disciplined financial management and strategic planning had contributed to the City of Mutare being recognised as Zimbabwe’s best-performing urban local authority in 2025.
Meanwhile, Mayor Councillor Simon Chabuka, whose speech was delivered by Deputy Mayor Alderman John Nyamhoka, said the commissioned projects demonstrate council’s commitment to improving education infrastructure, enhancing road safety and delivering quality services to residents.
“The projects we are commissioning today demonstrate our commitment to improving the lives of our residents through better education, safer roads and more efficient municipal services,” the mayor said.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, councillors, council management, officials from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, school authorities, residents and representatives from institutions of higher learning, with stakeholders applauding the growing collaboration between local government and Zimbabwe’s tertiary education sector in driving innovation and sustainable urban development.