Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,
The Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, is in Matabeleland South where he is touring various devolution-funded and high-impact projects in the province to assess their impact.
Eng. Muguti first paid a courtesy call at the office of Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu. He then visited Phakama Primary School in Gwanda, which was constructed using devolution funds.
The school, which has one classroom block, is accommodating ECB learners. Another classroom block is under construction.
He commended Gwanda Municipality for its use of devolution funds. Eng. Muguti also inspected two fire trucks that were purchased by the council using devolution funds.
He also visited high-impact projects at Blanket Mine and in Umzingwane District.
“I would like to commend the council for utilising devolution funds, as we can see here a school that is under construction. I would like to urge the council to build more classroom blocks at this school so that more learners can be accommodated here. I also heard that there is a need for a bridge in this area to enable children to access the school. I would like to urge the council to use ERRP 3 funds that will be disbursed to build the bridge,” he said.
Gwanda Mayor Alderman Thulani Moyo said that Phakama Primary School will go a long way in easing congestion in other schools in the town. He stated that devolution funds have greatly assisted the council in meeting its obligations.
In 2020, residents decided to spearhead the construction of Phakama Primary School by mobilising resources. The residents from the ward contributed US$1 each towards purchasing building materials, which were used to construct a slab for the classroom block.
Gwanda Municipality later came in and used devolution funds to construct the classroom block and purchase furniture. The school is an annex of Jahunda Primary School.
With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), local authorities have used devolution funds to augment efforts by communities and other stakeholders, ensuring that projects are completed in a timely manner.
Devolution funds are helping local authorities fulfil their obligations across the country by developing key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, and bridges, among other facilities. Devolution funds have transformed several districts in the Matabeleland region as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive development philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
The devolution programme is one of the key pillars under the NDS1. The overarching goal of the NDS1 is to ensure high, accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as socio-economic transformation and development, as the country moves towards becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
- @DubeMatutu
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