Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
The 2 percent levy being collected by the Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB) from bookmakers is being effectively utilised, with a number of high-impact projects that align with the Government’s national development priorities being implemented.
This was revealed in a report tabled in Parliament recently by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs.
The portfolio committee is chair by Chivi Central Member of Parliament, Cde Exevia Maoneke.
The report was titled “The impact of projects being implemented by the Lotteries and Gaming Board as part of its corporate social responsibility in Zimbabwe”.
The committee said the initiatives being done by the LGB reflected prudent resource management and a strong commitment to inclusive service delivery across critical sectors.
“Interventions by the Lotteries and Gaming Board have significantly improved service delivery in previously underserved communities,” the committee said.
“These initiatives have not only advanced the implementation of key national policy frameworks, particularly the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), but have also played a pivotal role in bridging critical infrastructure gaps, fostering social equity and reinforcing citizens’ constitutional entitlement to quality public services.”
The committee noted some hitches in the project implementation by the LGB, with the approval process for housing plans by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works being generally prolonged, resulting in missed project deadlines and delays in implementation.
It noted that the authorities benefiting from LGB infrastructural support fail to sustain and maintain infrastructure such as clinics and schools developed on their behalf by LGB, a situation which may risk such facilities, thereby undermining the very purpose of public infrastructure investment.
“Significant discrepancies in project quotations by contractors raise accountability concerns and pose a serious challenge to the timely execution of scheduled projects,” the committee noted.
“The (LGB) Board of Directors’ sitting schedule which is limited to only one meeting within four months creates a bottleneck in decision-making, particularly in cases requiring urgent financial adjustments.”
The committee recommended that by 31 July this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, through the LGB, should always ensure equitable distribution of projects across all the country’s provinces.
It said such projects should be extended to districts by collaborating with traditional leaders, local councils and Members of Parliament to foster community ownership and long-term sustainability.
The committee said by the 30th of next month, the LGB should raise the levy on licensed bookmakers from the 2 percent to at least 4 percent to strengthen its resource base and expand the reach and impact of development projects benefiting marginalised communities.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was given up to July 31 this year to expedite its plan approval process for the construction of public buildings, ensuring that all submitted applications are reviewed and approved within a maximum period of one month.
Government ministries were instructed to safeguard public investments by ensuring that, upon completion and handover of LGB-funded projects, responsible authorities assume full ownership and commit to ongoing maintenance to preserve infrastructure value and sustain community service delivery.
The committee said in the pursuit of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda which seeks to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy, the role of strategic institutions in catalysing inclusive development could not be overstated.
It acknowledged the commendable efforts of the LGB in advancing national development through strategic investments in education, healthcare, sports and cultural preservation.
“These initiatives clearly align with the aspirations of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and demonstrate the Board’s commitment to inclusive growth and social upliftment, while the Lotteries and Gaming Board has laid a strong foundation for community transformation, sustained success will depend on robust governance, strategic partnerships and a renewed focus on efficiency,” said the committee.
“Lotteries and Gaming Board has emerged as a proactive and transformative agent, extending its mandate far beyond regulatory functions to become a catalyst for community empowerment and national development.”
Some of the LGB projects visited by the committee were the Herbet Chitepo Skills Training Centre and Elim Primary School in Mutasa, Kamungoma Heritage Site in Gutu, Harawa Mothers’ Shelter in Zaka, Pupu Clinic, Pupu Heritage Site and Mabhigwa Secondary School in Lupane and Karigamombe Secondary School in Kadoma.
