The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
ALL local authorities in Manicaland are ready to roll out life changing projects in their areas of jurisdiction from the $21.3 billion allocated to the province under the 2023 devolution funds.
This year marks the fourth year since Government started allocating at least five percent of national revenue collections to lower tiers of Government as enshrined in the Constitution.
To this effect, disbursements to lower tiers of Government are bearing positive fruits as evidenced by the great number of high impact completed and ongoing developmental projects and programmes across the province.
In presenting the 2023 National Budget last year in November, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said $195.5 billion, which is five percent of the anticipated national revenue, will be channelled to the lower tiers of Government to speed up development across the country.
The funds, with some local authorities having received the first batch of the funds in January, will support the construction and rehabilitation of health facilities, school, road infrastructure, water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as the procurement of plant and equipment for local authorities.
Manicaland was allocated the third biggest chunk of the money ($21.3 billion) after Midlands ($23.7 billion) and Mashonaland West ($22.8 billion) respectively.
Buhera Rural District Council chief executive officer, Dr Emily Chibvongodze said they were allocated $2.3 billion under devolution, adding that this will go a long way in helping to solve some challenges facing the district.
“Buhera Rural District Council was allocated about $2.3, which is inclusive of Murambinda Town Board. We intend to use this money to improve the sewer reticulation, public lighting and solid waste management systems around Murambinda. Part of the money will be used to improve our schools and health facilities, roads and provision of water in rural communities,” said Dr Chibvongodze.
Some of the projects to be tackled include sewer reticulation, upgrading the Chengoma football pitch, construction of classroom blocks, a community hall, tower lights, school and clinic staff houses.
Council will also acquire medical equipment, a borehole drilling rig, a motorised grader, a tipper truck, an ambulance, skip bins and a dumper truck.
Chipinge Rural District Council was allocated $2.4 billion which will fund ongoing and new projects.
The council administrator, Mr Takesure Maduveko said they had identified key projects that will be funded by the devolution funds.
“Since the inception of the devolution programme, the council has embarked on a number of tangible projects. Some of the major projects which the council has already completed include installation of solar streets lights and the completion of a poly clinic at Checheche Growth Point.
“We have also purchased various heavy machinery such as a roller compactor and a trailer. This year, we will finish ongoing projects and start new ones. “In the health sector, we intend to finish Maongera and Junction Gate Clinics as well as mother’s shelters. Some of the funds will be channelled into the education sector. We intend to finish the construction of Samutsa Secondary School classroom blocks.
“Due to the increase of students at Tongogara Refugee Camp, we want to build a a classroom block. The project has already started and close to 18 000 bricks have been moulded,” said Mr Maduveko.
He added: “In the infrastructure sector, we want to rehabilitate Jamanda Bridge in Mahenye, which was destroyed by Cyclone Eline in 2000. We intend to finish this road so that it becomes trafficable again.”
The council also had its $5.7 billion budget recently approved by Local Government and Public Works Minister, Dr July Moyo.
The finance director, Mr Rekai Murire, said the lined up projects include borehole drilling, purchasing of equipment and road construction.
“A huge chunk of the budget funds will be channelled towards the purchasing of equipment and road construction. We will construct two market stalls at Checheche Growth Point and drill three boreholes at Zamchiya Primary School in Pako and Muzamani villages,” said Mr Murire.
Makoni Rural District and Rusape Town councils were allocated $1.2 billion and $736 million respectively under devolution.
Makoni RDC chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise described the money as life changing, adding that his council is already constructing clinics and conducting routine road maintenance.
The local authority will also construct a youth training centre, staff houses at clinics, repair damaged schools and build a safe shelter for gender based violence survivors.
“We were allocated $1.2 billion under devolution. A number of projects will be carried out using these funds. We have already received $12 million, which was channelled towards the construction of Mapere Clinic in Makoni North. It will be a complete clinic with staff houses, tapped water, solar powered and fenced. Villagers will no longer travel long distance to access health services.
“Council has also budgeted for the repair of schools which were damaged by a hailstorm. These include Muvhimwa, Rumano and Chiware, among others. A motorised grader and a backhole loader will also be purchased.
“A first of its kind, a Youth Training Centre will be constructed at Chikuse Business Centre. The centre will offer training in carpentry, bricklaying, metal fabrication and horticulture. The centre will have a dormitory, workshops and staff houses. It is a long term project which we will kick-start this year.
“The Madzingidzi-Kanda Road will be worked on using the funds. Additional houses will be constructed at our clinics. While Government has provided more staff at clinics to increase access to health, this has created accommodation challenges. This will be rectified by the devolution funds,” said Dr Pise.
He added: “We will construct a safe shelter for victims of gender based violence at Damburamuchato. Survivors of abuse currently do not have a place to stay while their cases are being heard at the courts.”
Rusape Town Council’s acting secretary, Mr Togarepi Nerwande said they were allocated $736 million.
“We were allocated $736m from the devolution funds and this will be channelled towards our capital expenditure. Devolution funds contribute 29 percent of our capital expenditure. It is a significant injection which will make our operations smooth.
“The money will be used in critical areas such as emergency road repairs, sewer reticulation on the 301 new stands in Tsanzaguru and the purchase of a roller compactor, as well as the purchase of an ambulance to service our clinics.
“A total of 200 street lights will be installed around the town, in addition to the town lights that are in strategic locations. A total of 4km of earth road will be upgraded to gravel,” said Mr Nerwande.
Mutasa Rural District Council was allocated $1.8 million, with the completion of the eagerly awaited Magadzire Clinic being the signature project.
Mutasa RDC chief executive, Mr George Bandure said they are also prioritising the completion of the ongoing projects that are at various stages of implementation.
“We are prioritising the completion of the Magadzire Clinic ($35.4 million) which we expect to be done by the end of the first quarter of the year. Under health provision, we will also be working on the Mt Jenya ($40 million), Muparutsa ($67.9 million) and Chidazembe ($62.3 million).
“Under water and sanitation, we want to upgrade the Tsvingwe Water and Sewer Ponds ($144 million), Chinyanjera Water Tanks ($28 million), replacement of the Irene-Magamba Water Pipeline ($80 million) and construction of Hauna Bus Terminus toilet ($30.5 million),” said Mr Bandure.
Mutasa RDC has set aside $40 million for the Chiteme Banana Project which will be the local authority’s income generating project to augment its revenue base.
“Under road maintenance, we are targetting to maintain all roads at our townships ($24 million), roads grading ($36 million), Grange Road resealing ($144 million) and Grange Road signage ($20 million).
“We also want to procure a grader ($260 million) and a borehole rig and compressor ($180 million). We will also construct a classroom block at Marara Secondary School ($50.5 million).
Nyanga Rural District Council chief executive officer, Dr Zefania Jaravaza said they were allocated $1.5 billion.
“Major projects include the completion of four clinics and the acquisition of a mobile clinic vehicle. We have two new schools penciled for Nyanga and Avilla, as well as staff houses at existing schools to improve our education in the district.
“We will use part of the money to acquire road equipment that include a motorised grader, a tipper truck, a front-end loader and a water bowser. We will not use the money to repair roads directly as we believe the equipment will in the long term benefit the whole district,’ said Dr Jaravaza.
He said under water and sanitation, focus will be on improving the sewer reticulation system in Nyanga and acquisition of a borehole drilling rig to ameliorate water challenges in rural communities.
Malfunctioning boreholes will also be rehabilitated using the devolution funds, he said.
For City of Mutare, $1.5 billion was allocated and is earmarked to finance a number of developmental projects.
Acting Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka said key projects include the construction of Hobhouse Clinic and Gimboki Primary School where a block is now at roof level. The Gimboki Primary School project is also being funded through education levy.
“We are also looking at reducing water bursts by replacing some of the pipes as well as the rehabilitation of sewer mains through proceeds from the devolution funds.
“Both projects are currently undergoing procurement processes. We also want to revamp the public light system. Contracting of the service provider has already been done,” said Mr Chafesuka.
