adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
GOKWE town and its sister rural district councils in Gokwe North and Gokwe South have started implementing devolution projects following the disbursement of over $4 million by the Government to the three local authorities.
Speaking during an interactive meeting held with the three local authorities in Gokwe, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Jennifer Mhlanga indicated that the nation was expecting feedback from the local authorities in terms of tangible projects following the devolution funds disbursement.
“Focus should be on ward-based projects so that devolution funds can reach marginalised areas. We expect Gokwe town to improve and grow into a smart settlement.
“As such, we expect to see the creation of industries so that you are self-sufficient. We want feedback from the funds received for devolution, what have you done with it to address issues of marginalisation,” she said.
Deputy Minister Mhlanga encouraged the councils to create functional settlements with all basic services provided in that settlement.
“Government has made the implementation of the devolution and decentralisation programme a key strategy of the country’s development agenda and I reiterate that the funds must be acquitted,” she said.
Giving an overview of how they had used the devolution funds, Gokwe South chief executive Mr Silas Velani said his council has resolved that each ward should have a clinic.
He said Gokwe South received $2,3 million and is working on construction and refurbishment of schools and clinics in the district.
“We are constructing 22 health facilities that are now at varying stages using the funds received from the devolution budget,” said Mr Velani.
Gokwe town secretary Ms Melania Mandeya said they had several projects running using the devolution money, which include the construction of Mapfungautsi Polyclinic.
She said the health facility was expected to be completed next year.
Ms Mandeya said they had since received $779 000, part of which was used to purchase a refuse trailer.
“We have also done Njelele water reticulation works up to 98 percent completion. To this effect, 700 households in Njelele high-density suburb have access to potable water,” she said.
Gokwe North chief executive officer Mr Paul Nyakuedzwa said they were pursuing ward-based projects so that the funds benefit the maginalised people. He said they had since received $1 757 500, part of which had been used to purchase a tipper truck and motorised grader.
“Our strategic plan prioritises water provision, road maintenance, construction of schools and clinics,” he said.
The meeting was meant to identify core areas which required intervention.
Online Reporter