Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
FROM having to travel an average 40km to the nearest clinic, villagers in Bubi now have a health facility nearby, thanks to devolution funds.
Bubi Rural District Council (BRDC) was allocated nearly $156 million devolution funds this year and it has so far received $11,5 million.
The local authority has channelled the funds towards construction of Bona Clinic, schools, and drilling boreholes.
Government has committed to uplifting livelihoods through devolution funds and many local authorities are now able to complete some projects.
BRDC channelled $6,7 million towards construction of Bona Clinic.
Construction of the main structure as well as electrical fittings, water reticulation and fencing has been completed.
The clinic will bring relief to thousands of people from more than 2 000 households that have been travelling close to 40km to Nkayi District Hospital and 55km to Inyathi District Hospital for medical services.
The clinic will serve BRDC wards 1, 20 and 21 with a combined population of 6 000 as well as Nkayi’s Tshanke and Dabe areas.
Construction of two staff cottages is also complete.
About $1, 5 million was channelled towards construction of classroom blocks at Battlefields Primary School covering wards 13 and 23.
The council also used $1 million to computerise its offices to improve service delivery while $300 000 was used to drill and equip boreholes.
BRDC chief executive Mr Patson Mlilo said council also bought a multi-purpose tractor while procurement is being done to purchase road making equipment, dam scooper, tipper truck, back hoe loader and utility vehicle.
The tractor is being used for refuse collection and tillage to improve food security in the district.
“We have built three classroom blocks at Esiphikeni Primary in ward 14, Bubi primary in Ward 20 and Battlefields in ward 13. At Battlefields we are doing two other classroom blocks, one of them from scratch and the other we are completing what had been started by the community,” said Mr Mlilo.
He said once completed, the school will ensure learners will move from a farm house that is being used as a school.
The farm house will be renovated and used as a clinic to service ward 13.
Four boreholes have been drilled at Esiphikeni, Bubi and Battlefields and the last one at t Bona Clinic will be solar powered.
Mr Mlilo said council bought hardware and software for computerisation of its offices.
“We are now producing financial statements timeously and accurately. As for Bona Clinic, we are doing touch ups and furnishing it as we wait for commissioning which we want to be done when the facility is already operational. So, we are also waiting for deployment of staff and we have set a deadline of 20 October for everything,” said Mr Mlilo.
He said council also plans to construct four dip tanks as this is also top priority according to a needs assessment done in the district.
Mr Mlilo said as a local authority they wish to access the whole devolution allocation before year end so they can buy equipment and implement projects.
He said communities had shown the desire for social amenities as they provided labour and helped mobilizing resources such as river sand and pit sand. -@ncubeleon
Online Reporter