Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
BULILIMA Rural District Council has proposed a $44,9 billion budget for 2024 with a focus on driving improved service delivery in health, education, water and sanitation, public safety and security.
In a statement Bulilima RDC finance chairperson, Councillor Mabed Ngulani, said the local authority will scale up its public private partnership strategy to enhance resource mobilisation.
“Our gender inclusive budget this year was set through consultations with the community of Bulilima District, business community and all stakeholders,” he said.
“Our budget thrust is strengthening our local economy to become capable of sustaining its district population by 2030. This is anchored on the provision of key service areas such as roads, health, education, water and sanitation, public safety and security.
“We are looking forward to improving service delivery through resource mobilisation for infrastructure development, multi-stakeholder engagements and private public partnership model.”
Through collaborative efforts, the local authority is driving at providing improved road development, sprucing up health facilities, education, water and sanitation and taking care of the environment.
In this regard, council expects to be among the top five districts with improved service provision and a better life for its citizens.
Clr Ngulani said the local authority is working towards a vision of creating a strong local economy capable of sustaining its district population in line with Vision 2030.
Bulilima Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Biliati Mlauzi, said while the local authority failed to meet its projected budget for 2023, devolution funds have helped council to address its key service delivery areas.
Since 2019 council has so far received $460 million for devolution funds out of an allocation of $1,9 billion.
This year the local authority has received $354 million. Last year it received $80 million and received $55 million in 2021.
With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), Bulilima Rural District Council has dedicated the larger chunk of devolution funds to health and education.
Devolution funds, coupled with involvement of other stakeholders, such as community and diasporans has brought significant development to Bulilima District.
The district has five schools and five clinics, which are under construction through corroborated effort between council using devolution funds and other partners.
Mr Mlauzi said the council has commissioned several projects that were implemented through a corroborated effort from council through devolution funds, community, diaspora, Campfire dividends, CDF, diasporans and the Rotary Club of Devolution. Commissioned this year are Malalume Clinic and Mbimba Clinic.
Other projects are Gambu Clinic, Zompata Primary School, Nyele Community Hall. Mr Mlauzi said devolution funds were also used to repair damaged infrastructure such as schools and clinics. He said the devolution fund has come in handy to ensure timeous completion of projects that were initiated by community members.
The devolution concept is enshrined in the Constitution and provides for five percent of fiscal disbursement from Treasury to be channeled to local authorities.
The funds have transformed several districts in the Matabeleland region in particular and the country in general, as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. —@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter