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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
What used to be the District Development Fund (DDF) is now the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA).
President Mnangagwa has since appointed Mr Christopher Shumba as the RIDA director-general.
His appointment follows the coming into effect of Statutory Instrument 171 of 2022 changing the
District Development Fund to Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
Mr Shumba, who was the Permanent Secretary of the District Development Fund, assumed the post at the level of Accounting Permanent Secretary with effect from October 20, 2022.
In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said in terms of the District Development Fund (Rural Infrastructure Development Agency) Regulations of 2022, DDF will remain the primary instrument to finance the operations of RIDA.
“His Excellency, the President in consultation with the Public Service Commission, approved the appointment of Mr Christopher Shumba as the Director General of the Rural Infrastructure
Development Agency in the Office of the President and Cabinet. The primary purpose of the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency is to promote inclusive and sustainable transformation of rural economies and other communities through the provision of requisite infrastructure services,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said in terms of the District Development Fund (Rural Infrastructure Development Agency) Regulations of 2022, the District Development Fund remain the primary instrument to finance the operations of the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Shumba said they will officially launch the agency either in Hwange or Binga district early next month during which they will spell out their new mandate and thrust.
In Matabeleland North, RIDA is implementing some key projects in Binga and Hwange districts. These include the rehabilitation of the Binga Airstrip, Binga-Siyakobvu road surfacing, Binga borehole drilling and Chentali Dam construction for irrigation and water supply purposes.
RIDA has a road network of more than 32 000km across the country which it has been actively working on and is also heavily involved in the drilling of the 35 000 boreholes under the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme.
There is also the reconstruction of the 200-metre Simukwe River Bridge that links Matobo District and Bulilima District.
RIDA acting roads director, Engineer Goodwill Mapako said the project which was expected to be completed by the end of the year, was not likely to meet the target as progress was affected by the validation of contracts exercise.
“We were badly affected by that exercise which nevertheless was necessary because some of the contractors were fleecing Treasury. For Simukwe Bridge, some contractors had actually quoted us between US$20 and US$25 for a bag of cement,” he said.
Eng Mapako said some works had been suspended due to the rains.
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