‘Govt remains committed to facilitate economic growth’

Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THE Government remains committed to facilitating development and creating an enabling environment for economic growth, the Minister of State for Matabeleland South, Cde Abedinico Ncube said yesterday. In a speech read on his behalf by the acting Umzingwane District Administrator, Mr Bekithemba Ndlovu during the commissioning of the new Sigebenga Bridge in Nswazi, Cde Ncube said the Government was committed to constructing roads, bridges and other infrastructure to facilitate economic growth. The bridge was a community initiative, which was constructed with assistance of the District Development Fund (DDF).

“Government envisages a scenario whereby communities are linked by road networks hence the construction of bridges has remained its number one priority. This is not confined to this district alone as over the years, roads and bridges have been commissioned in other districts as well,” said Cde Ncube.

He said Government was also working on projects to provide clean water to communities such as drilling of boreholes and sinking of wells.
Cde Ncube said all the projects were being implemented in partnership with communities who then own the projects.

He said Sigebenga Bridge would bring a difference to the lives of the surrounding communities.
“From now on it will be easy for people to visit their relatives on either side, school children across will be able to attend their school uninterrupted, especially during the rainy season and business people will be able to transport their wares to points that are nearer to the people. The commissioning of this bridge means better services to the villagers, which is what Government wants,” said Cde Ncube.

He applauded DDF for providing resources in the form of builders, saying their relationship with the villagers had ensured the success of the project.

The DDF Matabeleland South coordinator, Mr Douglas Dube, said the organisation was committed to assisting the people.
“This bridge is unique because it is a project that was initiated by villagers and it is inline with the DDF’s mandate to uplift the people’s living standards through provision of better infrastructure,” he said.