Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
THE US$187 million devolution funds received by Mangwe Rural District Council from 2019 to date have helped the local authority address key service delivery issues and resulted in the completion of some projects that had stalled for years.
Since provision of social amenities and infrastructure development are some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), Mangwe Rural District Council channelled the larger chunk of its devolution funds to health and education.
Devolution funds are assisting local authorities to fulfil their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities hence councils are using the money to fund construction of clinics, classroom blocks, roads and bridges among other facilities.
In Mangwe District, Izimnyama Clinic, which had remained a pipe dream for 70 years has been completed after the local authority allocated $47 million towards the project.
The project was mooted in 1953 but failed to take off. Efforts to resume the project resurfaced in the 1980s but never materialised. Two primary schools, Mzila Primary School in Ward 4 and Greystone Primary School, are under construction in the district using devolution funds.
A total of $40 million has been spent on Greystone Primary School while $22,7 million was spent on Mzila Primary School.
Mangwe Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Bongani Ngwenya said the district has recorded significant growth in terms of infrastructure development since 2019 as a result of devolution funds.
“Some of the projects that we have funded using devolution funds include the construction of two cottages and the completion of a classroom block at Marula Secondary School. The school which is located in Ward 11 services both A1 and A2 resettlement areas,” he said.
“This entire area did not have a secondary school before and as a result most children just went up to Grade 7,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He said the school is a community-initiated project, which was initially funded by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through its community-based management concept.
IOM purchased building materials that were used to complete one classroom block.
“The left over material was used to build the second block and council had to assist to complete the brickwork and roofing the block. We spent $12,5 million on the project,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He said the local authority used devolution funds to buy furniture for Hlanganani Primary School, Matshamhlophe Primary School, Tshitshi Primary School, Mqokolweni Secondary and a science laboratory block at Ivimila Secondary Schools after it was damaged by the rains.
Mr Ngwenya said $3,2 million was allocated for repairing Nguwanyana Primary School after one of its classroom blocks had the roof blown off.
He said devolution funds will also be used to replace damaged furniture.
“Council also came in with devolution funds to assist in constructing Makorokoro Secondary School. It was initiated by the community with most of the funding mobilised through their children based in the diaspora,” said Mr Ngwenya.
“The ward had no secondary schools and learners had to travel long distances. One classroom block was built by the community and the local MP who assisted through Constituency Development Fund.”
Mr Ngwenya said in 2020, the local authority constructed two staff houses using devolution funds.
“We also used devolution funds to assist in constructing a classroom block at Watershed Primary School,” he said.
Mr Ngwenya said council partnered the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and using devolution funds funded the water reticulation infrastructure for 69 medium and low-density stands, 468 high-density, three commercial and two institutional stands at Ingwizi Growth Point.
He said 97 borehole repairs were rehabilitated across the district while two were drilled at Ingwizi Growth Point. A total of $3 million was allocated towards the project.
Mr Ngwenya said council also repaired Maninji Clinic using devolution funds after the roof was partly blown off by strong winds.
A total of $11,9 million was allocated towards completing Makorokoro Clinic. The main structure has since been roofed while plastering and internal fittings are underway.
“We have also rehabilitated Tshitshi Clinic, Mambale Clinic, Sanzukwi Clinic and Madabe Clinic. The devolution funds have enabled us to implement many infrastructural development projects which have not only improved service delivery but also generated employment for locals,” said Mr Ngwenya. -@DubeMatutu
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