City of Bulawayo municipal nursery on the mend

Written by Lewis Jones, ZDDT Field Correspondent Tuesday, 22 November 2011 14:52

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – After lying in a state of neglect, due to a decade long economic crisis, Bulawayo’s Municipal Nursery is on the mend.

Related: Read more on the restoration of Bulawayo's Central Park

Commenting on this, Mr. Moses Munthali, General Manager of City of Kings Business Ventures, who oversees operations, said; “Our target is to ensure the Division’s attainment of the renowned high standards it enjoyed in previous times.”

Evidence of this move toward regeneration is evident. Infrastructural resuscitation, such as repairs to a disused borehole and well, were recently completed.

According to Mr McLean Semwayo, Parks Nursery Administrator, these have been equipped and, together with the restored reclaimed water system, will provide an adequate water supply for the unit’s entire operations.

To this end, old piping is being replaced, while maintenance on the Nursery’s two main reservoirs is set to begin soon.

Mr. Semwayo says this renewed source of water has enabled two acres to be placed under cash crops and a further three will soon follow. There also exists a venture which, in its initial stage, involves the raising of 800 broiler birds. Proceeds will go towards the cost of the garden centre operations.

However, the Nursery’s core business of providing decorative and fruit bearing plants to the Municipality and the public, has not been abandoned.

Already necessary materials for renovating the plant sheds have been purchased and restoration work will soon begin. The chiller rooms have been restored to provide cut flowers to vendors and florists throughout the city.

Intentions are that, by mid 2012, this enterprise will be returned to viability once again.

ZDDT and the Municipal Nurseries, through the City of Kings Business Ventures, enjoy cordial relations.

These entities share a common vision aimed at the restoration of public facilities for the benefit of city residents.