Sundaymail Editor
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
MASHONALAND West province has emerged better and more solid as an eco¬nomic player following the disbursement of more than $3 billion for devolution projects over the past three years.
Already, 141 projects have been completed.
Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ms Mary Mliswa-Chikoka told
The Sunday Mail that the funds have gone a long way in developing the province’s economy.
“In 2019 and 2020, we spent $169,2 mil¬lion; in 2021, $731 million; and last year, $2,2 billion.
“Never, at any given time, will funding be enough because we always want to do more for the people, but we appre¬ciate and applaud Government for pro¬viding the funds, which have gone a long way in improving service delivery,” she said.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said they had developed provincial economic development plans, which would ensure the province’s contribution to national targets, pursuant to the National Development Strategy 1.
“These plans are informed by the provin¬cial endowments and comparative advan¬tages.
“Communities are given the opportunity to participate in economic issues that affect them.
“Through devolution, rural communities are moving from being economic spectators to participants, since programmes being implemented are a product of their con¬tributions, and they touch and affect their lives,” she said.
Continued decentralisation of Govern¬ment departments and services, she added, was increasing access to much-needed ser¬vices while reducing bureaucracy in deci¬sion-making processes.
“For example, the construction of the Siakobvu Government Complex in Nyam¬inyami and the Kadoma Registrar’s offices will bring Government services to the mar¬ginalised.
“Access to clean and potable water has been a challenge in the country, particu¬larly in urban areas, and the coming in of the devolution funds is bridging the gap in terms of access to clean water,” she
said.
“Schools being constructed will improve the literacy rate, as well as access to quality and affordable education.”
Notable projects in Mashonaland West include 35 new classroom blocks; 15 clin¬ics; four borehole drilling rigs to service Hurungwe, Mhondoro, Sanyati and Zvimba; and four graders, four tippers and two bull¬dozers.
Mhondoro-Ngezi is also benefitting from four piped water schemes and several solar-powered boreholes.
Twitter: @RuzvidzoWallace
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