adminWalter Nyamukondiwa
Kariba Bureau
The Chirundu Local Board has used part of the $5 million obtained under devolution funds to procure equipment aimed at improving service delivery.
The equipment includes a tipper truck, backhaul loader, a tractor and skip bins for refuse collection, which are expected to help improve roads and service stands in the border town.
Speaking at the commissioning of the equipment, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the development dovetails with Government’s drive for sustainable eco-friendly communities.
She urged Chirundu to expedite the development of the town’s masterplan to enhance its chances of attracting investment.
“Chirundu is a border town and therefore ought to have an established infrastructure, meeting the demands and needs of the Chirundu community, leading to an empowered and prosperous upper middle income economy by 2030,” she said.
“A masterplan is needed because you can build a school where there is supposed to be a church. We don’t want haphazard development.
“We want order because we end up building on top of water and sewer pipes.”
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said lack of a masterplan stunts development, adding that Chirundu was 10 years behind.
She said Chirundu had missed a lot of opportunities because of the absence of a masterplan, which tends to give investors the confidence to invest.
Without mentioning names, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said a major retail chain ended up investing across the border due to Chirundu’s failure to have a masterplan.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said devolution projects should impact communities, but said people should be consulted at all levels to ensure that the projects undertaken meet their expectations.
As the country joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Environment Day on June 5, under the theme, “Ecosystems Restoration”, Minister Mliswa said creation of sustainable economies was key in the realisation of Vision 2030.
Online Reporter