admin
Midlands Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has so far allocated $23 million to local authorities in the Midlands province as part of its devolution agenda, a development that is transforming people’s standards of living.
In an interview, Midlands Provincial Development Co-ordinator, Mr Abiot Maronge, said rural and urban authorities have made significant progress since they started receiving devolution funds by implementing people centred projects that are focused on improving service delivery.
He said the province has recorded progress in terms of infrastructure development as well as road, health, education and water provision among others.
“The major interventions revolve around disbursement of devolution funds. So far we have received roughly $23 million which was disbursed through both urban and local authorities. The province was allocated a total of $41, 6 million. To date, a lot of work has been done in terms of implementing identified projects. I should say we are impressed with most of the proposed projects that councils are working on as they are fulfilling the desires of the Government,” Mr Maronge said.
He said most local and rural authorities have been using devolution funds to address people’s challenges.
“If you go to Gweru, Zvishavane, Shurugwi and Redcliff, they have identified water related projects as they have been facing problems in that area. We are happy with the results so far. This is exactly what government had in mind when they came up with the devolution idea,” Mr Maronge said.
He said some councils purchased road making equipment using the funds.
“Mberengwa and Gokwe town council purchased road making equipment that will see the roads being rehabilitated. They also discovered that this was their area of concern,” Mr Maronge said.
Kwekwe and Zibagwe RDC have focused on infrastructure development: clinics, classroom blocks and staff cottages were constructed.
“As for other local authorities, they also focused on infrastructure development like clinics, borehole drilling, classroom blocks construction and building of staff cottages at clinics and schools. This also means that there is proper accommodation and infrastructure across the province,” he said.
“So you find that across the province, we have recorded significant progress and this is exactly what the Government is pushing for. We will continue ensuring that our local authorities are working on their projects and monitoring progress so that we improve people’s livelihoods.”
Mr Maronge however, said the recently introduced procurement framework, the Procurement Regulatory Act of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), has seen some local authorities failing to utilise their funds.
“We have Tongogara RDC and Gokwe South RDC that have failed to utilise their development funds due to the recently introduced procurement framework which they are yet to acquaint themselves with.
We will continue monitoring the local authorities and ensure that they get to use their funds,” he said.
Online Reporter