The Chitungwiza Publicity has an interesting and illustrious history that dates back prior 2009. The idea came about as a result of one of the city’s telecomm firm, tts, and director having attended an IODZ workshop on Corporate Governance. Initial correspondences with the Municipality resulted in our first meeting with the then Town Clerk, Mr. Godfrey Tanyanyiwa, who suggested that the Publicity House be an independent and autonomous unit with Council as a partner. The Town Clerk seconded the Town’s Public Relations Manager to work with us as Council representative. The first stakeholders meeting, where representatives of stakeholders’ union bodies were invited, resulted in the formation of CHITUNGWIZA PUBLICITY ASSOCIATION. Present was Mr. A Taderera & Mr. Masitera ( Chitungwiza Residents Association Chairman & Secretary ), Ms. M Chikukura ( tts PRO representing Chitungwiza Business People ), Mr. T Kwaramba ( representing Chitungwiza Publicity ), Mr. Z Mandirawe ( Chitungwiza municipality PRO ) and Mr. L Mrewa ( convener ). A student on attachment, Tendai Kwaramba, went on familiarization tours of Mutare and Harare Publicities. Subsequent meetings unanimously agreed that Mr. Lexcy Mrewa be the substantive Public Relations Director while Tendai Kwaramba became the Publicity Officer. The Public Director was given a task to draw up the Association Constitution. The next meeting resulted in tts offering Chitungwiza Publicity Association an office, office equipment and a stipend for attachment student to start and run Chitungwiza Publicity.Chitungwiza Publicity was born and opened in doors in June 2009 at the tts Doves offices Complex

The first networking moment we got was the Sanganai 2009 Stakeholders meeting where we got the opportunity to introduce Chitungwiza Publicity Association. Our first marketing opportunity was the Culture Fund Harare International Conference Centre in August 2010, where theme was World Cup Preparatory Conference & Arts Exhibition. In partnership with our Council, we took a sizeable number of our artists to showcase various artworks with the 2010 World Cup Theme. Since then we have never looked back.

February 2010, Chitungwiza Municipality moved to the current premises to work from. A lot of work was done notably by Nzou and Givy to spruce up and clean the run-down place and initiate a place to start work. Givens Sitandi, an artist passing by, offered to paint the entire the building provided paint was availed.tts donated some paint and white wash and work was done to the current paint status it is now.Kubamharira, a local carpenter, was approached and used his carpentry skills to reassign the existing roofing sheets to reroof the House to cover it leaving minimum holes and leaking points. March 2010, the Chitungwiza Publicity Association officially opened its current premises doors with Lexcy Mrewa.

Due to prevailing harsh economic climate at towards year end and subsequent lack of funding constraints our dedicated Public Officer, Tendai Kwaramba and Melinda Chikukura who filled his shoes also left. Our left to run the Publicity with the help of my two Board Members during the first half of 2010.The Board, in consultation appointed Mr. Ben Moyo to represent the various Organisations in Chitungwiza as he was leading a consortium of over 30 Housing Cooperatives. Mrs. A Chizengeni was also spotted by the Board and was co-opted into the Board as the Business Representative as she is currently the Chitungwiza Business Association Chairperson. End of 2011, at a Board meeting, they all agreed to appoint Mr. Ben Moyo as the Board Chairperson while Mrs. Chizengeni was appointed the Board Secretary. Unfortunately, June 2012, we lost our Board Chairperson in an accident, May His Soul Rest In Peace. At the last Board in December 2012, Mr. Taderera was appointed the Board Chair while Mrs. Chizengeni who had acted reverted to her position as Secretary.

The Chitungwiza Publicity is aiming to become more stakeholder oriented, and as part of this drive it aims to empower its stakeholders through encouraging stakeholder partnerships. As the Chitungwiza Stakeholders are the primary providers and consumers of its produce, improving conditions for them will ultimately lead to an improvement in all aspects of the Chitungwiza and its Publicity at large.