adminRumbidzayi Zinyuke
Manicaland Bureau
Chimanimani Rural District Council has prioritised the rehabilitation of roads and clinics across the district when using the $10 million devolution grant received from Government this year.
The local authority, which has a road network of about 600km, has so far done maintenance on 150km. Most roads in the district were damaged by Cyclone Idai last year and Government has already funded repair of the major roads and bridges.
This left the council focussing on the feeder roads that link the service centres, clinics, schools and the communities.
Chimanimani RDC chief executive Mr Nehemia Deure said a good road network would help attract business into the district.
“This year we have done at least 150km of road maintenance on the 600km road network we have,” he said. “We also have a plan to do resurfacing and tarring of roads to our rural service centres including Wengezi, Nedziwa and Chimanimani to make our district more marketable in terms of attracting investors.
“Investors want to put up their structures where they can get value for their money. If we create a good road network for them, they will also be happy to work with us.”
Road maintenance was a long process and some of the outstanding works would be completed after council receives more funding from Government.
The RDC had also channelled funding into the construction of Hotsprings Clinic and the refurbishment of Mhakwe Clinic.
“Hotsprings Clinic was built from the ground and the structure is now 90 percent complete,” said Mr Deure. “At Mhakwe Clinic, one wing has been completed and furnished and we are now working on the other wing.
“We are also constructing housing for nurses at Muchadziya Clinic which are now at 95 percent completion and nurses are already using them.”
Mr Deure said council would also use devolution funds to construct a clinic at Hlabiso in ward 22 to alleviate challenges being faced by people who have to travel long distances to access the clinic.
Besides the roads and clinics, Mr Deure said part of the funds had been used to recapitalise the RDC and increase its capacity to respond to the needs of the people.
The council bought a tipper and a front-end loader, which will be delivered soon, and a project vehicle meant to enable engineers to move around the mountainous terrain of Chimanimani.
Online Reporter