Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
AS part of efforts to promote effective learning in schools, Gwanda Rural District Council has embarked on a project to construct Early Childhood Development (ECD) classroom blocks at three primary schools in the district using devolution funds.
According to council, ECD classroom blocks are under construction at Makokwe Primary School, Mahwanke Primary, and Zhukwe Primary School.
A total of $61 million has been allocated towards Makokwe Primary, $25 million to Mahwanke and $38 million to Zhukwe ECD blocks.
The projects started last year and are expected to help enhance quality learning at the three centres.
The local authority has also dedicated devolution funds towards the completion of Tshanyaugwe Clinic project.
From 2019 Gwanda Rural District Council has received $360 million in devolution funding out of a budgeted $2 million.
In an interview, Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Ranganai Sibanda, said this year the local authority is using devolution funds to complete targeted projects.
“This time around we have four projects that we are focusing on. In the past, we have been running many projects concurrently across the province but we realised that this was leaving us with a number of pending projects,” he said.
“This time around we are focusing on completing ECD blocks at Makokwe Primary School, Mahwanke Primary and Zhukwe Primary School. Makokwe is at roof level while Mahwanke and Zhukwe are at gable level. We are also working on completing Tshanyaugwe Clinic,” said Mr Sibanda.
“We have completed the clinic block but the painting works are still outstanding. We are yet to construct staff houses. We have so far used $96 million from devolution funds towards the clinics.”
Mr Sibanda said the council has received a boost from the International Organisation for Migration, which has also contributed US$24 000 towards the construction of the clinic.
He said some of the projects that have been implemented in the district using devolution funds include the rehabilitation of classroom blocks, clinics, construction of Mandihongola Clinic, Mashaba Clinic waiting mothers’ shelter, construction of classroom blocks, and Garanyemba Clinic waiting mothers’ shelter.
The Government has to date disbursed over $1,4 billion in devolution funds to Matabeleland South rural local authorities, which has seen implementation of key service delivery projects.
This year the Treasury has allocated $10 billion to the province’s seven rural local authorities.
The devolution funds have assisted local authorities in the province to fulfil their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities across the country through development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, bridges, and street-lighting among other facilities.
Upgrading infrastructure is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), a national five-year economic management masterplan running from 2021 to 2025.
Under NDS1, the Government is focusing on building, expanding and restoring key infrastructure such as roads and energy. Infrastructure development is expected to play a key role in ensuring the country attains the status of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The Government has seen it prudent to operationalise the devolution concept as enshrined in the Constitution, resulting in five percent of fiscal disbursement from Treasury being made to local authorities. The funds have transformed several districts in the Matabeleland region in particular and the country in general, as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.–@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter