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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
CONSTRUCTION of the Insiza District Registry offices in Filabusi, Matabeleland South province is almost complete after the Government allocated funds for the project which had stalled for more than two decades burdening people from the district who would travel long distances to acquire documents.
The building whose construction began in 2001 before works came to a halt in 2006 due to financial constraints is now at 70 percent towards completion after the project resumed last year with the first phase restoring the walls and slabbing that were in need of repairs due to a long time of neglect.
Construction work has been pacing up giving hope to people in the district as they will no longer need to travel to Bulawayo or Gwanda to get the required documentation. Responding to questions from Sunday News, Registrar-General in the Civil Registry Department Mr Henry Tawona Machiri said since the coming in of the Second Republic, all stalled projects were taken up with Insiza Registry offices being one of them.
“Construction work commenced in 2001 but it became a stalled project in 2006 due to constraints in funding. The Treasury could no longer release funding. Since the coming in of the Second Republic in 2018 a decision was made that all stalled projects be completed,” said Mr Machiri.
He said so far the Government has released ZW$100 million towards the completion of the project which he said was not very far from now and would be determined by the rate of funding.
“So far ZW$100 m has been released towards the project and its completion depends on the availability of funds. We hope there will not be problems in the release of funds. The completion of the project will witness enhanced service delivery and bring services closer to the people,” said Mr Machiri.
Insiza district development co-ordinator, Mr Zachariah Jusah said the project had since gotten into the second phase.
“Construction work resumed last year with phase one which was meant to restore lost walls as well as slabbing. The project had been stalled for two decades hence part of the walls needed restoration. It has since entered the second phase where the constructors are building pillars, ring beam as well as preliminary roofing works. I can say the project is about 70 percent complete,” said Mr Jusah.
He said the project comes as a relief as the structure would offer a critical service. He said at the moment the registry staff was operating from a building with limited space and they do not offer comprehensive services.
“Once the office is open people will be able to access passports and other travelling documents locally. You will notice that this project entails the decentralisation of services in line with devolution. As such it will help to ease congestion at the Bulawayo and Gwanda offices as once the structure is open, it will also service other districts. We applaud the Government for the great work it’s doing to push the devolution and decentralisation agenda,” said Mr Jusah.
Mr Jusah appealed to the Government to continue funding the project until it was completed timeously saying the completion of the project would also result in locals getting employment.
Last year, President Mnangagwa commissioned the Murehwa District Registry offices following the completion of the state-of-the-art complex at Murehwa Growth point in Mashonaland East Province. Construction of the structure had started in 2001 and stalled since then but resumed with the coming in of the Second Republic.–@nyeve14
Online Reporter