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Fairness Moyana in Hwange
HWANGE Rural District Council has spent more than $500 000 on an infrastructure rehabilitation exercise targeting schools and clinics as it seeks to improve social service delivery.
The local authority’s projects are at various levels of completion, chief executive officer, Mr Phindile Ncube, said, adding that the rural authority was dedicated to improving access to health facilities and quality education by ensuring that infrastructure was improved.
“As a local authority, education and health are on our priority list in terms of service delivery. So, these projects, which are at various levels of completion, are meant to improve access to health and education. This is part of our long term plans to either rehabilitate or build new schools and clinics so that communities can benefit,” he said.
So far, Mr Ncube said, they were working on two clinics; Vulindlela in Kachechete Ward and Mashala Health Centre, which was being electrified.
He said at Mashala they were building a clinic with 15 percent of the work having been covered so far.
“About $150 000 has been provisionally set aside for two health centres. Due to the liquidity crunch we are also relying on partnerships with NGOs or private sector,” said Mr Ncube.
Once completed, Mashala Clinic will go a long way in serving surrounding communities that had to endure travelling long distances to Hwange or Simangani Ward to access health care.
Mr Ncube said the local authority had achieved a 95 percent completion level at Nembila Secondary School after the construction of three classroom blocks while at Dumbutshena Primary an additional block was at 65 percent stage of completion. In Chidobe, Songwa and Lupote an additional two classroom blocks and teachers’ cottages are under construction at a combined cost of more than $300 000.
In addition to infrastructure development the council was also rehabilitating dams and weirs as it sought to improve food security in the face of climate change.
In partnership with non-governmental organizations, HRDC had completed the Kasibo weir and market garden at a cost of $150 000 while the Kalonowe weir gobbled $20 000, said Mr Ncube.
Cadec assisted in the water reticulation by drawing water from Gwayi River to Msuna Hills to support communities living in the arid area. Upgrading of roads is also underway within council’s jurisdiction.
Online Reporter