Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube
Bulawayo Bureau
BULILIMA Rural District Council is turning local resources and partnerships into tangible service delivery improvements, with the local authority commissioning equipment worth more than US$212 000 while a number of schools, clinics and other infrastructure projects are taking shape across the district.
The latest investments include a new motorised grader, a six-tonne tipping trailer, 28 motorbikes for councillors and an extension to the council offices, in a drive the local authority says is aimed at bringing services closer to communities and meeting Government’s Minimum Service Delivery Standards.
Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Albert Mavhunga yesterday commissioned the equipment and office extension as Government intensified efforts to strengthen service delivery at local authority level.
The grader, which cost US$161 500, is expected to address a longstanding road maintenance challenge in the district, while the six-tonne tipping trailer, valued at US$12 000, will strengthen waste collection at rural service centres.
The 28 motorbikes, bought for US$38 640, will improve the mobility of councillors and enable them to reach communities across their wards more effectively.
The council’s office extension, constructed at US$105 433, was funded through a partnership with its designated safari operator, Mvimi Safaris.
Bulilima RDC chief executive officer Mr Billiat Mlauzi said the developments reflected the council’s strategy of combining its own resources with support from Government, the private sector, communities, the diaspora and development partners.
“In its five-year strategic plan for 2026-2030, Bulilima RDC prioritised enhancement of social infrastructure development to improve the health and education levels within the district,” he said.
“To achieve its goals, Bulilima RDC employs an all-inclusive, collaborative approach that takes on board MDAs, the community, diaspora and development partners within the district. Bulilima RDC strongly believes that through collective efforts of all concerned stakeholders, the strategic goals of the district shall be achieved.”
The council’s approach has already yielded results in the education sector, with four new primary schools — Norhood, Goba, Nlibgwane and Hungwa — opened so far this year.
Seven more schools and 11 clinics are at various stages of construction, with Ngwana Clinic, Mambo Clinic, Somnene Clinic, Hungwa Primary School and the Phumuza Bridge Project expected to be commissioned before the end of the year.
Mr Mlauzi said the council received ZiG2,9 million in devolution funds for 2026, although some projects under construction had not yet benefited from the allocation.
These include Bhangale and Mbila primary schools.
The acquisition of the grader is expected to be particularly significant for the district, which has struggled with limited road maintenance equipment.
Mr Mlauzi said the three road authorities operating in Bulilima had previously been without a grader and had been relying on a provincial grader from the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), which serves all seven districts in Matabeleland South.
“To address the issue, in 2025, council made a resolution to take part of the 2025 and 2026 ZINARA disbursements and channel them towards the procurement of a new motorised grader,” he said.
The equipment is expected to improve the council’s capacity to maintain roads and improve connectivity between communities, schools, health facilities, businesses and rural service centres.
Part of the devolution allocation was also used to construct the Phumuza Causeway in Ward Three, which is expected to be commissioned before the end of the month.
Meanwhile, the six-tonne tipping trailer will be deployed for solid waste collection at Figtree, Madlambudzi, Somnene and Ndiweni Rural Service Centres.
The council is also working towards establishing a permanent administrative base within Bulilima District, with its current offices located in Plumtree.
Mr Mlauzi said the newly commissioned office extension was constructed through a partnership with Mvimi Safaris.
“The office extension you are commissioning today was built in partnership with Mvimi Safaris, our designated Safari Operator.
“We are very much aware that at some point Bulilima RDC will have to move out of Plumtree town to establish an administrative office within Bulilima District,” he said.
Mr Mlauzi said council had budgeted for the construction of offices at Ndiweni Rural Service Centre in its 2026 budget, in line with the District Master Plan adopted by the full council.
He said the local authority would continue investing in equipment and other resources to strengthen its capacity to deliver services.
Deputy Minister Mavhunga commended Bulilima RDC for placing service delivery at the centre of its development agenda.
“This is a significant milestone for the council and indeed for the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen local governance, improve service delivery and accelerate socio-economic development in line with the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030,” he said.
He also praised the council’s stakeholder-driven approach, saying development could not be achieved through Government efforts alone.
“The development of our communities cannot be left to the Government alone. The private sector, development partners, traditional leaders, communities and stakeholders all have a role to play,” said Deputy Minister Mavhunga.
