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Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland Bureau Chief
Chirundu Local Board has acquired road maintenance equipment and skip bins through devolution funds worth about US$640 000, as it moves to improve service delivery and the outlook of the border town.
The equipment acquired includes a front-end loader, D6 Dozer, 15m3 tipper truck, 10 skip bins and ablution facilities at the town’s market and truck inn.
It will help in the servicing of the 600 stands at Mopani housing project, maintenance of roads and promote hygiene as the town looks to develop into a smart gateway along the North-South Corridor.
Launching the equipment, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said devolution funds were helping bridge the gap between rural and urban communities.
“The maintenance of roads and servicing of stands were found to be key in stimulating development in an area,” said Minister Chombo.
“Chirundu is the gateway into the country, and the first port of call for those coming from Tanzania, DRC and others. Therefore, it is important that their first impression of Zimbabwe is positive.”
She said the Second Republic has transformed Beitbridge to make it an excellent border post and Chirundu should step up to match or surpass their southern counterparts.
Minister Chombo said local authorities should step up their effort in meeting President Mnangagwa’s expectation under the call to action towards National Development Strategy (NDS1) benchmarks.
Improved service delivery and amenities, she said, were key in reducing rural to urban migration as all the services that attract people to urban centres would be available in their localities. The ablution facilities would help in promoting hygiene for locals and Zambians that cross to trade at the Chirundu Market, while truck drivers who were using the bush to relieve themselves now use toilets.
Online Reporter