Binga bears testimony to Second Republic’s development agenda

Dr Jenfan Muswere

A TOTAL of 16 clinic projects in Binga district, Matabeleland North province are at various stages of implementation as the Second Republic steps up efforts of leaving no one and no place behind in its development agenda.

Since coming to power in 2017, President Mnangagwa has been at the forefront in terms of driving economic growth and development in Matabeleland.

Last year President Mnangagwa announced at a star rally at Siabuwa Business Centre in Binga that the Government under the Second Republic committed itself to develop Binga, which for years has been lagging behind in terms of development.

The projects, which the Government greenlighted for implementation include the rehabilitation of roads, construction of a vocational training centre and a new border post, setting up of a nursing school at Binga Hospital and the refurbishment and operationalisation of the hospital mortuary.

Government recently completed the rehabilitation of the Binga Airstrip. The Second Republic interventions under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa, have in consistence with the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1), continued to be centred on scaling up the implementation of key projects with priority being on completing the ones, which had stalled for years.

In his post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, the acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said tremendous progress has been made in the implementation of transformative projects in Binga

“The Government has scored remarkable success in the implementation of the following: establishment of the Binga Vocational Skills Industrial College; delivery of two ambulances at Binga Hospital; Binga Airstrip rehabilitation; refurbishment of Binga Hospital Mortuary; construction of Chipale clinic; construction of classroom blocks and staff houses at Chibondo, Mulindi, Bulawayo Kraal and Muchesu primary schools as well as carrying out a blitz for the issuance of identification documents to the people of Binga,” he said.

“The nation is further informed that in terms of health provision, a total of 16 clinic projects are at various stages of implementation and expecting mothers’ shelters were being constructed at these sites.”

Among the ongoing projects are the rehabilitation of Binga-Kamativi and Binga-Siakobvu roads; eight access roads were completed for Chiefs Siansali, Pashu, Dobola, Saba, Siachilaba, Siabuwa, Sinampande and Sinakoma. Construction of Nsungwale floods disaster recovery houses of which 37 are at various stages of completion; the drilling of boreholes for 17 chiefs, drilling of 30 boreholes for Binga North and another 30 for Binga South; delivery of 31 fishing rigs for the empowerment of women, youths and chiefs.

Minister Muswere said Government has enhanced local broadcasting services signals in Binga through the distribution of 68 set-top-boxes.

The set-top boxes have facilitated connectivity and saw the establishment of Twasumbuka Radio Station.

Dr Muswere said so far 110 584 tonnes of maize have been distributed to families that require food relief while e-learning and information communication technology Infrastructure (ICT) deployment are ongoing.

“Cabinet would like to assure the nation that Government will continue walking the talk in delivering projects that can transform the lives of all the people across the nation,” he said.

Minister Muswere said in terms of priority projects for the second 100-day cycle of 2023, which was presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Dr Joram McDonald Gumbo, a total of 130 projects are ongoing, while 42 are new.

In terms of disaggregation by National Development Strategy (NDS 1) Thematic Areas, the Infrastructure and Utilities Pillar has the highest number of projects totalling 30, followed by 25 under devolution then 17 projects under the Economic Growth and Stability Pillar.

“Cabinet wishes to highlight that as part of the leaving no-one and no place behind thrust, seven projects are being implemented in Binga District, in support of the marginalised areas development initiatives which were enunciated by His Excellency President Mnangagwa,” said Dr Muswere.

“Going forward and in order to ensure that the public is kept abreast of developments, respective ministries will report mid-term progress over the period 11 July to 8 August 2023 and a consolidated end-of-cycle publication will be produced at the end of the second 100-day cycle period.”