adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA residents have urged Treasury to set aside funding for the dualisation of the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway in the 2016 national budget. Speaking during a budget consultation meeting led by members of parliament’s budget and finance committee in Gwanda on Tuesday, residents said the dualisation of the major road which passes through the mining town must be prioritised.
Residents also expressed concern over the sprouting of homesteads near the highway saying that would cause some challenges when the time for dualisation came.
They said funds should be allocated to ensure infrastructural development in Gwanda, Matabeleland South’s provincial capital and in the province as a whole.
“We are crying for your budget to consider having our roads dualised. We now have an increase in traffic hence the need to rehabilitate the roads,” said Tuso Maphala, a resident.
Matabeleland South provincial administrator Midard Khumalo said the province’s roads were very bad and narrow, especially the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road. He said the Plumtree road was now much better.
Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer Ronnie Sibanda said the Tuli-Manyange Dam project needed funding as it would enhance livelihoods in a district facing water challenges.
“My main worry is the construction of the Tuli-Manyange Dam project because for several years we have been talking about the project but nothing has been done,” he said.
Sibanda said the project was mentioned in the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, a sign that it was critical.
Ben Mashologwana, the Gwanda district agritex officer, said due to climate change, funding should be availed to resuscitate irrigation schemes and for desilting dams to ensure food security.
Residents said the Spitzkop North five megalitre water reservoir in Gwanda Town, which is about 70 percent complete, should be completed to end incessant water woes facing the town.
They also said the town needed bridges and well equipped schools.
The government was also urged to provide funds for school feeding schemes as drought had taken a toll on pupils.
Online Reporter