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Rutendo Nveve, Sunday News Reporter
BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province has so far received $982 million under devolution funds in the last four years which has been channelled towards different developmental projects that have face-lifted the city and improved service delivery in the health and education sectors.
The developments are part of efforts to match population growth in the city which has seen a number of suburbs sprouting with available service infrastructure such as schools and clinics. It is also in response to the ageing facilities in some of the suburbs.
Responding to questions from Sunday News, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary Mr Paul Nyoni said Bulawayo got $29 million in 2019, $12 million in 2020, in 2021 the figure rose to $54 million and last year, it jumped to $176 million. As of 30 June 2023, the city had received $710 million.
“Some of the projects undertaken through the devolution funds include the construction of Vulindlela Primary School in Cowdray Park which has seen $69 million being channelled towards the project. The first phase is 100 percent complete while phases two and three are in progress. Some of the work done under this project include the construction of seven classroom blocks, two ECD blocks, administration block, play centre and sports field, a cultural village and two blocks of toilets.
“Other allocations include the purchasing of computer equipment to the tune of $429 538 while $3,9 million was allocated to Aisleby one and two treatment plants.
“The rehabilitation of Colbro outfall sewer got $187 million and $70 million has so far been allocated to roads for regrading and regravelling,” said Mr Nyoni.
He said the funds were also allocated to Fernhill Sulzer Pumps and Vacuum Contactors, Cowdray Park 40-metre road, Inyankuni soft starters, a water kiosk as well as VAT on Caterpillar Motor Grader/Excavator. The funds were also allocated towards Covid-19 expenses.
With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), Bulawayo City Council also confirmed channelling the larger chunk of devolution funds towards service centres that help the community.
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) corporate communications manager Mrs Nesisa Mpofu told Sunday News that the devolution funds complemented some of their projects that included renovating Barbourfields Stadium, building a school and refurbishing council clinics.
She said the renovations have given their structures a new face creating a conducive environment for social gathering as well as providing space for national and regional competitions. She said they have also improved social and entertainment space in the city promoting fitness and use by the public to relieve stress and ensure the youths have something to engage in that take them away from drug and substance abuse.
“Thorngrove Hospital was renovated by council courtesy of US$120 000 devolution funds and our revenue budget. We also renovated Barbourfields Stadium from the US$450 000 we got from devolution funds. We have so far renovated various council-owned clinics (18 of them) at a cost of US$120 000 from devolution funds and revenue budget,” said Mrs Mpofu.
The City of Bulawayo has also renovated three swimming pools some of which had been lying idle as well as halls through ward retention as well as revenue budgets.
“We renovated Bulawayo Swimming Pool at a cost of US$14 055 from the revenue budget while Luveve and Mpopoma swimming pools were renovated through ward retention at a cost of US$42 730 and US$56 000 respectively.
“Stanley Hall was renovated at a cost of US$284 602 and Mabuthweni Hall at a cost of US$380 539 from the revenue budget. Jabulani Flats were also renovated to the tune of US$91 822 from ward retention funds,” said Mrs Mpofu.
The concept of devolution was actualised by the Second Republic and has seen a number of developments being completed in urban and rural areas thereby improving access to quality service by the communities.
The concept has localised development by promoting community participation and ownership of development projects through identifying priority areas that need attention.
As a result, a good number of social amenities across the country such as clinics, schools, roads, and bridges, among other facilities have been either built from scratch while others have been upgraded. -@nyeve14
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