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Chief Mathema said the projects were identified through the Gwanda Rural District Council.
“We started by looking at council projects and discovered that the most affected is the health sector.
As a trust we felt that every community should have a health facility of its own and we hope rehabilitation of these clinics would help,” he said.
Chief Mathema said they were looking at spending about $1 million on the projects.
“We are inheriting most of the projects from the council but all the chiefs have started going out to their communities to gather views on the kind of projects each community has in mind. We know they are the same projects that are being run by the council but our goal is to cover everyone so that no one would say their projects were not done,” said Chief Mathema.
The targeted health centres are Mapati, Silikwe and Sitezi clinics, which need completion and supply of water and building materials.
Chief Mathema said they were also looking at buying a borehole drill rig, which would generate revenue for the trust fund, as it would be hired out.
Also prioritised is the rehabilitation of Guyu and Chelesa irrigation schemes.
“We have also looked at water projects because we have realised that there is a critical shortage in most communities and our aim is for all chiefs to have boreholes to be used by the communities for income generating projects,” said Chief Mathema.
He said they had asked for a portion of land in some irrigation schemes where they would carry out irrigation activities.
“If we can get a portion of Guyu and Chelesa irrigation schemes then we will be able to create employment and produce food. We hope to start all projects immediately after we get bidders,” said Chief Mathema.
After the launch of the Gwanda CSOS/T in May, the province outlined six developmental areas where livestock restocking and irrigation programmes were mentioned.
Chief Mathema said the trust fund would also be used to boost education infrastructure, upgrade, reconstruct and rehabilitate roads.
Bidders are expected to have a certificate of incorporation, be a registered and reputable contractor and be cleared by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
A total of 15 mining companies and a cement manufacturer came together to set up the trust fund and pledged to give 10 percent of their annual profits to community development programmes.
The companies gave out a $5 million cheque during the launch by President Mugabe.
The CSOS/T is a countrywide Government initiative spearheading development and empowering rural communities by giving a 10 percent stake in all businesses that exploit natural resources in their area.
Online Reporter