The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has embarked on a whirlwind tour of Manicaland to assess community projects that are being implemented using devolution funds and to take the implementation of National Development Strategy (NDS)1 to the grassroots.
A total of 45 projects under devolution have been completed to date, with hundreds more on different stages of implementation.
Last year, Treasury disbursed $203 million to 10 local authorities in the province for devolution projects, with the bulk of it now exhausted.
More funding is expected as soon as the ongoing project assessment mission is completed.
Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister, Honourable Clemence Chiduwa, is leading a team of finance and development experts who are taking stock of progress achieved to date in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutasa, Makoni, Mutare, Buhera and Nyanga.
Apart from assessing the devolution projects, the team is also meeting 840 delegates drawn from various groups and Government departments to equip them with the requisite knowledge and techniques on the implementation of NDS1.
The delegates are expected to impart the knowledge acquired to the grassroots to ensure the smooth implantation of the economic blueprint.
Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Edgars Seenza revealed this week that the team has since visited Chipinge and Chimanimani.
The team is expected to tour projects in Nyanga today (Friday).
“We are engaging various district stakeholders from line ministries, the private sector, special groups like the disabled and the churches. These people add up to about 120 per each district and they are a representative of the community.
“A presentation on the devolution projects as well as the implementation of NDS1 is being done in the respective districts. A thorough audit of completed and ongoing projects is also being done.
“Members of the community are expected to air their views on the impact of the projects as well as give input on what needs to be improved. The impact of the projects to the communities is also being assessed and the community representatives have to be candid and share their sentiments,” he said.
Mr Seenza said the thrust of the tour is to promote deep community involvement by enabling villagers the opportunity to participate and question Government on the community projects being carried out in their respective areas.
“A lot of work has been done using devolution funds. Many projects have been completed and they have changed the face of different communities. Most local authorities have completed the bulk of the projects they embarked on and are now waiting for the release of more funds this year. We are pleased to note that in some cases local authorities have gone further to use their own funds to finish some of the projects,” he said.
According to a devolution fund disbursement schedule done by the provincial economist, Mr Gwinyai Mafasitera, a total of $202 824 378, 36 was allocated to local authorities in the province last year.
Chipinge RDC received the biggest chunk of $27, 4 million.
Buhera received $17,6m; Chimanimani $19,5; Makoni $20m, Mutare RDC $24, 2m; Mutasa RDC 21,5; Nyanga RDC $24m; Chipinge Town $24m; Mutare City $10m and Rusape Town $14m.
Buhera District has finished the refurbishment of Mbundire Clinic which chewed up to $3 456 785, 15.
Chimanimani has 10 finished projects which are Hotsprings Clinic ($4 030 634), Mhakwe Clinic ($240 601), schools furniture procurement ($657 263), Wengezi Road resurfacing ($798 000), Ngangu Storm drain construction ($394 000), tipper truck ($1 560 000), Backhoe loader ($6 430 000), devolution vehicle ($2 800 000), Saziya staff house construction ($300 000) and Nhedziwa IDP stands servicing ($488 000).
A total of 11 projects were completed in Chipinge RDC. Gumira Clinic house rehabilitation used $877 696 65, Checheche Clinic nurse house construction chewed up to $3m, while 11 boreholes were drilled at a total cost of $5 355 809 in several wards.
Goko Classroom block construction used $806 000, Kubatana classroom block used $2m, while the rehabilitation of Rimbi Road is also complete.
Other completed projects include the Rimayi-Checheche Road construction ($975 000) and squat hole toilet construction ($303 000).
Mutasa RDC has finished five projects namely Chinyanjera Water Tank ($486 770), Hauna ponds construction ($4 500), a tractor ($2, 4m), Mutasa DC Causeway ($611 000) and Fort Umtali water tank fencing ($265 000).
Three projects were completed in Mutare RDC. These are Bezley Bridge public toilet re-modeling ($389 000), grader repairs ($1 799 687) and the construction of Chilmark classroom blocks ($1 106 676).
In Nyanga, four projects were completed; namely Munemo Rural Health Centre rehabilitation ($2.5 m), Mukunza Rural Health Centre construction ($1,6m), People’s markets construction ($2,2m) and the purchase of a dumper trailer ($70 000).
Chipinge Town Council completed seven projects. A total of $2m was used for borehole water reticulation, Thiba Road used $1m, Usanga Road used $890 000, while 10 solar street light were installed for $140 000.
A dumper trailer was bought for $618 942, while the refurbishment of toilets in town used $477 000.
Mutare City Council used $7,6m to rehabilitate Aerodrome Road.
Rusape Town Council did the Magamba Extension water reticulation for $4,1m and purchased a handheld steel drum vibratory compactor for $675 987.
More than 55 projects are on-going in the province, including the Dangamvura Water Project in Mutare, purchasing of fire-fighting equipment in Rusape and various other clinic and school projects in Mutasa, Mutare RDC and Nyanga.
Most of these projects are at more than 50 percent completion and they are awaiting more funding.
