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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau
At the beginning of 2022, as in other years, the in-trays of most councils were full with tasks of developmental projects and aspirations of the communities they serve.
On the other hand, their out-trays had correspondence with Central Government on funding projections from Treasury.
This cycle is repeated every year as central and local tiers of Government interface with communities for their rapid transformation and development in line with the devolution agenda.
Government releases funds during the course of the year to fund developmental projects that improve livelihoods of communities, especially the once marginalised societies.
In its third cycle, the devolution programme has had positive impact on communities through community-centred and locally influenced development.
Kariba District has not been left behind as several projects have been implemented to improve trafficability on the roads, access to health, education and sanitation facilities among others.
The Siakobvu Government Complex in Kariba rural and the Kariba People’s Market are the flagship projects in the district.
The Government Complex is a landmark development, denoting a reconfiguration of the district to bring greater linkage between the urban and rural parts.
Nyaminyami Rural District Council and Kariba Municipality are different sides of the same coin, subject to varying fortunes.
The fairer half, Kariba urban, had all the Government services at its doorstep, while its modest cousins had to travel long distances by road or on water to access the services.
To improve the situation, Government departments such as registry services had to undertake outreach programmes to enable access by many.
Access to Government services became one of the major sources of discomfort for communities in the area.
It had been a perennial item on the list of projects to be undertaken in the district for nearly 20 years.
The coming in of the Second Republic saw the project being resuscitated with a steady stream of funds.
This ensured fast track implementation of the project with the superstructure being completed in the second half of the year.
Ceilings have been completed, with work on the roofing now in progress.
Completion of the project will bring relief to communities under Chiefs Mola, Negande, Nebiri and Msambakaruma who to access Government services.
Nyaminyami has a population of around 40 000 people.
The detached set up of the district, divided by the vast Lake Kariba and a rugged terrain worsened by a poor road network, meant the rural part was not adequately serviced.
Completion of the office block will see a fully-fledged district office operating, with some officials expected to move to the rural part of the district.
To complement the project, work has started on the construction of a block of flats to accommodate the Government workers.
The four-storey block of flats at Siakobvu Business Centre sets another pillar in the decentralisation of Government operations.
These developments encapsulate Government’s thrust of ensuring that no-one and no place is left behind as the nation trudges along with its development aspirations towards attainment of Vision 2030.
The block of flats will accommodate at least 32 civil servants and their families, some of whom will relocate from Kariba.
The block will comprise eight two-bedroom flats in each of the four floors.
The devolution fund has also seen crucial social needs such as classroom blocks and teachers’ quarters being built.
At least 10 schools in Nyaminyami have had classroom blocks, staff houses and offices built. Among the schools that got structures were Majazo, Kadziro, Kauzhumba, Jongola, Mutengu and Nselelo primary schools.
Secondary schools include Gache Gache and Chiwelu.
In Kariba, Government released $18,5 million during the course of the year towards completion of the third shed at the Kariba People’s Market and ablution facilities.
The imposing shed becomes one of the landmark structures in Kariba where more than 420 stallholders will operate flea markets and vegetable stalls up from 260 stalls.
This moves vendors from the crowded and dingy conditions which were a blight on the outlook and ambience of the town.
The project is expected to be completed this year with more than 70 percent of the vendors already on site.
Several roads in Kariba have been rehabilitated with some of them upgraded to tarred roads.
Upgraded roads include the DA’s Camp, Nyamhunga 3 Road, Somerset Drive, Mica Point, Nyanhewe Road, Nyamhunga Drive, Mukute Crescent, Rufaro Road, Carobeck Close, School Drive and Boulder Ridge Road.
Others such as Muchirara, Heights Drive and Gadzi Road were rehabilitated partly from devolution funds, the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) and Kariba Municipality generated funds.
At least 220 street lights have been installed in Nyamhunga and Mahombekombe Townships through devolution funds.
The lights cover all the nine wards in Kariba urban.
Street lighting has gone a long way in reducing human and wildlife conflict in Kariba where animals roam freely.
The developments and the impact of these life changing projects have not gone unnoticed by the communities.
“We see the steady progress that is being made in our communities through the devolution fund as well other programmes,” said a resident, Mr Johnson Siasunia.
“Our district has a shortage of schools so naturally when we got the opportunity to choose the projects we wanted, we went for more schools.”
Nyaminyami RDC procured two tipper trucks and a front end loader to help in the maintenance of roads in the district.
With the drive to devolve Government services to the rural part of Kariba District, there is need to expedite upgrading of the Karoi-Binga Road which will considerably cut the travel time to Siakobvu Business Centre which is expected to be a growth point.
Government at some point called for the district to be split into two, to ensure equal opportunities for growth.
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