adminTawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
Chiredzi Rural District Council has started de-silting Runde Runde River after receiving an initial tranche of over $610 000 devolution funds from Government.
All local authorities across the province received a total of $,5,6 million under devolution which they shared to finance infrastructural projects particularly in the areas of health, education and roads.
Chiredzi RDC dispatched earth-moving equipment for the Runde desilting project which is critical to ongoing efforts to resuscitate Chilonga irrigation scheme which has been mothballed for the past 12 years.
Acting Chiredzi RDC chief executive Mr Mikia Majatame said the local authority was utilising devolution funds on projects that will uplift the livelihoods of rural communities in the district.
“We applied for $3,2 million devolution funds and we are very happy that central government has already disbursed $610 000,” he said.
“These funds must be utilised for irrigation development, construction of schools, clinics, rehabilitation of roads and upgrading the water reticulation system in rural communities.”
He said as a short-term measure, they intend to divert the Runde River course which was inhibiting irrigation activities at Chilonga.
“Chilonga Irrigation Scheme has been lying idle for quite some time and given its previous economic contribution to improving the standards of living of communities in Chiredzi, we had to prioritise it,” he said.
“We have dispatched our bulldozer which is working on site to change the river course. An excavator will also be out-sourced to provide a lasting solution to this predicament.”
Mr Majatame said another huge share of devolution funds would go towards construction of classroom blocks, clinics and boreholes.
“We are set to construct classroom blocks and drill or rehabilitate boreholes at Dikita, Mutapurwa, Nyahanga, Machoka, Chehondo, Mhlanguleni, Monyoroka Chitezani and Lisama Primary Schools. We will also attend to Gwaseche Secondary School, Samu, Uswaushava, Bangala and Nyangambe schools.”
He also said they will construct clinics at Magumire, Chikwirire, Turkey Heart, Zvemombe, Uswaushava and staff houses at Kushinga Clinic.
Chiredzi South National Assembly member Retired Brigadier General Kalisto Gwanetsa hailed Government for releasing the devolution financial war chest saying it would engender infrastructural development in rural communities.
He said the move to revive Chilonga was a welcome intervention as new pumps and tractors availed by Government for the scheme was lying idle for a long time.
“The decision by council to prioritise Chilonga scheme is a welcome development. This scheme has over 250ha which are already developed with the potential of expanding to 350ha if the newly installed pumps supply adequate quantities of water to the farming community,” he said.
“It is sad that the community could not utilise new irrigation pumps, tractors, ridgers and planters they received from Government. We hope the community will utilise this facility to the maximum as it has a bearing in the fight against poverty and malnutrition.”
Online Reporter