Devolution funds make a difference for Mutare RDC

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau

Mutare Rural District Council is planning to step up service delivery and infrastructure upgrade in communities within its jurisdiction after taking delivery of equipment bought with the $2,9 million it was allocated under Government’s devolution programme.

The council has so far purchased a tipper truck to be used in the various projects being implemented in the district, and has gone to tender for the purchase of other equipment.

Mutare RDC chief executive Mr Shephard Chinaka said the tipper truck cost council about $854 000.

“We will use it for hauling gravel and concrete stones, as well as transporting any other building materials for infrastructure projects we have going,” he said. “Having the tipper truck will reduce our costs considerably because we will not have to hire trucks from private contractors.”

Mr Chinaka said council had taken delivery of another vehicle to be used in the supervision of the projects being carried out.

He said council had gone to tender for the purchase of two tractors, dumper trailers and a water bowser.

“The equipment we have purchased will come in handy in the road upgrades we are working on, as well as the construction of six-classroom blocks at various schools in the district,” said Mr Chinaka.

“We are currently working on Laurenceiville Road and the surfacing of a 1,2-kilometre road at the Marange Rural Service Centre.”

On the classroom blocks, he said three companies had been awarded contracts to construct classroom blocks in three constituencies within the district.

“In Mutare North, we have 1×2 classroom blocks being constructed at Mhangaurwi school and Hamamaoko school respectively and we will have two more blocks in Mutare South at St Michael’s Matura school and Ndorwe Primary School,” said Mr Chinaka.

“In Mutare West we have similar work being done at Mavhiza and Chigande primary schools.”

“Price increases have had an impact on the speed at which work is being done as it is affecting the buying power of the money,” he said.

“We have not been spared by the price increases, so we are encouraging our contractors to give us quotations of all materials they will need and we pay directly to the supplier so that we bypass the middlemen.

“Once work has been completed, we are expecting Government to release another $2 million for us to pay off our contractors.”