Chronicle Editor
Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
PLUMTREE Town Council has embarked on a number of milestone projects which have transformed people’s lives following the disbursement of devolution funds.
The local authority has been receiving funds as part of devolution – a Constitutional provision that was actualised by the Second Republic for communities to engage in developmental projects that will transform lives.
Council has channelled the funds towards road rehabilitation and education, among other projects that are a priority.
Council chairperson, Alderman Similo Ndlovu said Plumtree Town was undertaking a number of development projects which were at various stages of completion. Mr Ndlovu said they were working on constructing a number of schools so that learners do not walk long distances or drop out of school due to the unbearable distances to the nearest schools.
“We are constructing Mathendele Primary School so that we decongest other primary schools. This will also help some children who have enrolled at schools in the rural areas surrounding Plumtree Town to walk lesser distances.
“One classroom block is at roof level and the other one is now at slab level. We hope to finish soon so that students do not walk long and painful distances as well as limiting congestion to the available schools,” he added.
Mr Ndlovu said road rehabilitation works were also in progress. He said road construction was helping in connecting the border town to various other places as well as improving general trafficability.
“We are also undertaking road maintenance where shouldering is being done to ensure the protection of pavement edges from traffic damage. We are also creating storm drains to divert water from the road so that potholes are prevented. A number of roads in our industrial area have been resurfaced and this has helped residents gain easy access to services. It pleases us to see our town developing and our people benefiting from these developments,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said they were also working on a trunk sewer so that new stands could be connected while they were pushing for improved sanitation services in the town so that diseases like cholera were prevented.
“We are working on the Mathendele trunk sewer so that new stands can be connected. This will go a long way in combating diseases such as cholera since some residents are forced to use the bush. This will go a long way in reducing the use of septic tanks which do not fit well due to small sizes of house stands,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said while they were working flat out to deliver services to the residents, they were faced with a lot of challenges that at times hinder effective service delivery.
“We plead with the Government to disburse funds allocated to local authorities timeously. We also hope that the Government can give back vehicle licensing to local authorities so that we improve our revenue collection. We urge the ministry to look into the councillors’ welfare because councillors are the drivers of development and as such their welfare needs to be looked into. “As I speak some have cited incapacitation and are finding it difficult to attend council meetings. The Bible says, do not muzzle the ox that treads the corn. I therefore pray that the Government looks at this issue with the urgency it deserves,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter