Government has upgraded Binga into a local board following a request by traditional leaders in the Matabeleland North district.
Binga district is famed for fishing on the Zambezi River, tourism and a rich culture characterized by art and craft and basketry making.
With an aerodrome, a chain of hotels, a sand beach, a boating industry, and booming fishing and craft sectors, chiefs made a request to President Mnangagwa to upgrade Binga centre into a town.
Government sent a delegation to assess the state of infrastructure and other services available in Binga last year.
This has seen the government opening a polytechnic college in Binga.
The local board status was confirmed last month and an acting administrator Alfred Sibanda was appointed.
Binga Rural District Council chief executive Joshua Muzamba said Binga
is growing.
“Binga was given local board status in January and its administration will gradually be transferred to the new local authority. This shows that Binga is growing and the local board will deal with growth into a fully-fledged town but for now the local board will be reporting to the chief executive officer’s office until all systems are set,” said Muzamba.
Binga residents association chair Mayasi Mudenda said residents were excited by the development.
Binga brings to three local boards in Matabeleland North after Hwange Local Board and Lupane Local Board.
Victoria Falls City and Hwange are the only urban local authorities, while the rest are rural district councils.
Binga RDC will relocate offices to Manjolo Business Centre where the local authority will operate from once the local board grows.
