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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
CONSTRUCTION of Siakobvu Government Complex in Kariba district, Mashonaland West Province, is progressing well, with nearly 90 percent of the work already done.
At least US$1,6 million is now needed for the successful completion of the new complex before Government officials move in to conduct their business.
The composite building, which is one of the Second Republic’s flag ship projects in the province, is expected to change the lives of people in rural parts of Kariba District.
Villagers in this area travel for more than 300km to Kariba town to access various services, including acquiring identity cards and birth certificates.
The new complex’s completion and commissioning slated for early next year, has been hailed by the community, with traditional leaders commending the Second Republic for keeping its word.
Chief Mola lauded President Mnangagwa, saying the project was going to be a symbol of pride for the Tonga people who previously felt marginalised.
“This is going to address the challenges of lack of important documents like national identity cards,” he said.
“In addition, the coming of the Government departments means we have been awarded the respect and honour by the Second Republic.”
Siamamvu village head, Mr Patrick Siambale, said apart from bridging the rural-urban divide, the complex was going to address various challenges faced by people in the area.
“Our dreams are now coming true,” he said. “The new complex is going to reduce our spending as far as acquiring government services is concerned. While many of these services are offered for free, the people of Kariba rural are forced to pay over US$40 that goes to transport costs alone to travel to Kariba town.”
Giving an update to The Herald recently after a tour of the complex, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, said while construction works had been temporarily stalled, it was the Second Republic’s agenda to complete the composite building to avail the beneficiaries’ rights to all the civil services as those offered in Kariba.
“A lot of work has been done so far, as the building is currently at 87 percent,” she said.
“Floor and wall tiling are at 80 percent while electrical trunking is above 50 percent. Drywall portioning and the suspended ceiling is also above 55 percent. As the Government, we are prioritising this project so that services are availed to the people in the area who are currently accessing the services in Kariba urban. We are only faced with financial challenges. The composite building needs at least US$1,6 million for its successful completion.”
Minister Chombo said the Second Republic was dedicated to devolution.
“The Second Republic is committed to decentralising services under devolution and the setting up of this complex in the rural part of Kariba speaks to the mantra ‘Living No One and No Place behind’. As a province, we are grateful to President Mnangagwa for ensuring that funds are released towards the construction of this complex and other Government buildings across the province,” she said.
Upgrading of the Registrar-General’s Office in Kadoma is taking shape, with the town expected to offer digital or e-passport issuance soon, becoming the second town in the province to offer such services after Chinhoyi.
For the Siakobvu Government complex project, the provincial team has also worked on a budget that is going to be presented to central Government for the construction of staff houses.
An estimated US$200 million, according to the Public Works Department, is needed for the construction of government officers’ accommodation.
While progress is noticeable on the ground, the community has challenged the responsible authority to rehabilitate the Zvipani-Siakobvu Road, which they said was in a bad state.
The nearest town for workers at Siakobvu is Karoi and transporters charge US$25 for a single trip of nearly 200 kilometres.
The Karoi-Siakobvu-Binga Road is being upgraded by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA).
“I have talked to RIDA to see to it that the road is rehabilitated so that the movement of people from Mola and Siakobvu to Magunje, Karoi and Kariba urban becomes easy,” said Minister Chombo.
Ms Mauline Mateko of Ward 4 in Mola under Nyaminyami Rural District Council said she was eagerly waiting for the completion of the project.
Her trust in the Second Republic and President Mnangagwa saw her cast her vote for the ruling party, Zanu PF, in the August 23 elections, as she was confident that the complex would be completed for the community’s good.
Another villager, Mrs Chido Zvidzai from Makande, noted that the Zanu PF-led government was walking the talk on rural development.
She, is however, among many that are travelling to Kariba urban for basic services and, once the complex is finished, the state of the road will have no bearing on them.
The Government is also working on modernising the Siakobvu Hospital, which has a bed capacity of over 40 patients.
Provincial public works director, Engineer Trymore Mutizwa, whose department is constructing the composite building, noted that the poor road network had impacted the project negatively.
“Transporters refuse to hire out their vehicles citing the fact that whenever they do so they will have to foot huge bills on repairing their vehicles,” he said.
The poor road network has also seen workers at the project quitting their jobs as their earnings were being wiped out by transport costs.
Online Reporter