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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
THE Government has stepped up efforts to distribute funds for devolution and in the absence of provincial councils, local authorities will be in charge of managing the money, officials have said.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told Sunday News recently that provinces through their Local Government structures are expected to identify developmental projects within their area of jurisdiction with potential of turning around their economies.
“The idea is that provinces working with Local Government structures, which are well developed and well-structured, should identify projects — that money is not for buying cars or other expenditure, it’s for projects that create jobs at local level and what we will be doing is to be publishing, we will be very transparent about the projects that each province will be undertaking so that we can show transparency on the use of these resources,” he said.
Prof Ncube said the allocation and the publicising of the funds was in progress.
“We have already started with Mashonaland Central. We published that a month ago. We will move on to Masvingo and then to Mashonaland East, so that it is very clear on how we are using the resources at local level so as to complete this notion of devolution and accountability,” he said.
A total of $26 million was allocated for devolution programmes in Mashonaland Central Province with $1 892 095 being allocated to Bindura town, $1 949 163 to Mvurwi, while Pfura would get $3 122 611. Muzarabani will get $2 972 033, Mount Darwin $2 963 202, Bindura rural $2 521 666 and Shamva $2 727 034. Mbire was set to receive $2 740 483, Guruve $2 890 822 and Rushinga $2720 812.
Masvingo Province received $33 million of which Bikita will get $3,2 million, Chiredzi $5,6 million, Chivi $3 million, Gutu $3,8 million, Masvingo RDC $4,6 million, Mwenezi RDC $3,9 million, Zaka RDC $3,3 million, Masvingo City $893 000 and Chiredzi Town Council $394 000.
“So 25 percent of the budget goes towards the provinces and then 75 percent is going towards the districts so we know exactly how much is distributed . . . so we know exactly how much we allocated to each province,” said Prof Ncube.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo told Sunday News yesterday the devolution funds are currently being managed by local authorities while plans to come up with Provincial Councils are underway.
“Right now we are directing the devolution funds to local authorities. We are still crafting a policy to come up with Provincial Councils,” he said.
Once constituted, Provincial Councils will act as Parliament of the provinces and will have powers to legislate certain aspects that are particular to that area.
They will also be in charge of devolution funds and will spearhead developmental projects in the provinces.
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Bongani Ndlovu