The ManicaPost
Senior Post Reporter
LOCAL authorities in Manicaland — rural and urban — have done little to provide housing to meet targets in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio and Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
This came out at a provincial development committee meeting whose agenda was to review progress on the Zim-Asset clusters.
According to minutes of the meeting which was chaired by provincial administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa, only two local authorities — Makoni and Chimanimani — had made some strides in providing accommodation.
The other seven — Nyanga, Mutare RDC, Mutare City, Chipinge Town, Chipinge RDC, Mutasa and Buhera — have not embarked on meaningful housing projects to clear housing waiting list backlogs to fulfil objectives of the social services and poverty eradication cluster.
Of the targeted 21 000 housing units or stands in these seven local authorities nothing has been done towards servicing them.
Mutare City has the biggest number of proposed housing units at 6 751 followed by Mutasa with 5 046, Chipinge RDC 3 707, Makoni 3505, Mutare RDC 2220, Nyanga 1 875, Buhera 920, Chimanimani 322 and lastly Chipinge Town with 200 units.
Coming to food security, significant strides have been made in the rehabilitation of some irrigation schemes in the province, but lack of funding is stalling the process.
At least 10 irrigation schemes have been targeted for speedy rehabilitation, but Government has circled Nyanyadzi and Nenhowe as the major ones.
Concerns were raised during the meeting over the Kentucky Project Scheme where members are still waiting for the Environmental Impact Assessment document and a response from the Environmental Management Agency.
The delay from EMA is affecting the $61 000 fund which was availed by well-wishers, but the money will eventually be remitted back to the owners if not used on time.
On value addition and beneficiation, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce did a survey on the performance of the manufacturing sector in the province.
The survey revealed that industrial capacity utilisation is about 36 percent excluding completely shut down companies.
Industries are in a sorry state and the research showed that a lot of challenges were being faced and these include land issues, indigenisation laws and issues of illegal settlers on forestry land.
Regarding the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant which is supposed to play a big role in driving Manicaland’s economy, it was noted that the company’s management must engage with the disgruntled community to reach a consensus.
GreenFuels was also urged to comply with indigenous laws as the mandatory blending law was gazetted on the understanding that the State would become the majority shareholder.
