adminFungai Lupande
Mash Central Bureau
Mukosa Village in Rushinga is already enjoying the fruits of devolution funds after the construction and commissioning of the Nyakusengwa Police Base has seen a significant drop in crime levels.
The Nyakusengwa Police Base was established in Mukosa Village in August last year.
The village is located just a few kilometres from the border with Mozambique.
Child marriages, stock theft, domestic violence and other crimes, were the order of the day in the village before the establishment of the Nyakusengwa Police Base, which was constructed by the Rushinga Rural District Council using devolution funds.
Construction of the police base was in response to the community’s calls for policing services in the area to minimise, if not eliminate, crime in the area.
Chief Nyakusengwa, born Wise Mabani Mutimbanyoka, thanked the Government for establishing the police base.
He said Chiefs were also revamping their courts to strengthen the justice delivery system in the district.
“We thank the Government for constructing a police base in our village. People used to go to Chitange and Rushinga, a distance of about 91km,” said Chief Nyakusengwa.
“Long distances to police stations resulted in aggrieved people remaining silent or take the law into their own hands.
“Cases of stock theft and domestic violence have gone down. The presence of the police has become a deterrent measure as people are afraid of getting arrested.”
Chief Nyakusengwa said traditional courts are an important part in the administration of justice in rural areas.
Chiefs in Rushinga were given cement by area legislator, Cde Tendai Nyabani, to renovate or construct traditional courts.
Chief Nyakusengwa said traditional courts help to promote and uphold cultural and family values in their communities.
“We also take measures to preserve the culture, traditions, history and heritage of our communities,” he said.
“Traditional courts are there to resolve disputes amongst people in the same communities in accordance with customary law.
“As Chiefs we also facilitate development and protect the environment. The help by our Member of Parliament in constructing or renovating the traditional court gives us a protected shelter during the rain, cold and wind.”
Chief Makuni, born Chaora Nicholas Muzika, said his traditional court was in bad shape and the cement he got would go a long way in renovating the structure.
He said Chiefs were the custodians of culture and Hunhu/Ubuntu.
Chief Makuni added that traditional courts also help in curbing human activities that result in deforestation.
“We are working well with all Government arms and departments for the development of our district,” he said.
“This district is along the border line with Mozambique and we have people without birth certificates and national identity cards.
“We collaborated with the police to ensure that people obtain these important documents. We cannot develop as a district, province and country when we still have children not going to school.”
The devolution funds put in place by the Government beginning in 2019, have helped in the construction of key infrastructure such as clinics and schools, especially in rural areas.
Some councils have used devolution funds to introduce tap water in rural areas while others have acquired critical yellow equipment such as graders, front-end loaders and refuse compacters so they build and maintain roads, and collect refuse to create a clean environment in line with Vision 2030 of an upper middle income society.
Online Reporter