Vusumuzi Dube
Government departments in Matabeleland North province will start offering services to the public from the new capital Lupane at the beginning of next month, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Matabeleland North is divided into seven districts with Victoria Falls and Hwange its largest towns. Lupane’s infrastructure development took off in 1999 when it was declared the provincial capital and accelerated in 2018, under the Second Republic.
One of the major landmarks in the province is the Lupane State University (LSU), which was established in 2005. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jefan Muswere said relocation of the Matabeleland North provincial offices from Bulawayo Metropolitan province to Lupane Centre has begun.
He said Vice President Kembo Mohadi had visited Lupane Centre on June 20 this year to establish the state of readiness of the civil servants housing units and the Government Complex offices for occupancy, while also checking on the status of the construction work at the Lupane Provincial Hospital.
“The civil servants’ houses are 90 percent complete while the Government Complex is complete. The houses can be immediately completed, while the government offices can also be utilized before the end of the third quarter of 2024,” he said.
“Fifty-five government officials have volunteered to immediately relocate to Lupane and are ready to move. A total of 19 houses have already been allocated to the 55 government officials from the various ministries, departments and agencies for the relocation.
“Accordingly, the public will be served from the provincial capital, Lupane with effect from 1st September, 2024.”
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