Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
Local authorities must engage communities on priority projects, to be implemented under the devolution drive, ensuring inclusive outcomes and the fulfillment of the Second Republic’s transformative development agenda.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Albert Nguluvhe, said this during a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Gwanda, where he challenged councils to identify key service delivery areas and ensure devolution projects are equally spread across districts.
“The devolution programme, which was introduced by the Government, has brought much relief to local authorities, and for the programme to fully serve its purpose, it has to be driven by what the community needs,” said the minister.
“As local authorities, let’s engage communities and community leaders, to find out what projects people need prioritised and then allocate funds towards these projects.
“As we will be receiving devolution funds, let’s carefully plan on how the funds will be used. Let’s also ensure that our projects are evenly distributed across our districts so that we don’t concentrate on some areas while leaving out others,” Nguluvhe said.
“Let’s also identify major areas of service delivery. The devolution programme plays a crucial role in the country’s development agenda and therefore let’s fully utilise it.”
He also urged districts to ride on the devolution agenda to engage companies to plough back into the community, which must benefit more from the locally available resources.
Minister Nguluvhe said it was the duty of companies that are benefitting from the resources to roll out corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Devolution also means using the resources that are available locally so that communities can develop. This requires a stakeholder approach where every player will play their part,” he said.
“Communities that have resources have to put their heads together and see how best to turn those resources into wealth. Companies that are benefitting from the resources also have to be put to the task so that they plough back into the community.”
Matabeleland South province has initiated 136 projects under the devolution programme, with some having already been commissioned. About 20 percent of the projects have been completed.
The province has this year been allocated ZWG507 million as a devolution fund, with social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars.
Under the National Development Strategy (NDS1), local authorities have used devolution funds to augment efforts by communities and other stakeholders through ensuring that projects are completed timeously.
Devolution funds are assisting local authorities to fulfil their obligation across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, bridges, among other facilities.
Devolution funds have also transformed several districts in the Matabeleland region as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
The overarching goal of the NDS1 is to ensure high, accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth as well as socio-economic transformation and development as the country moves towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030. — @DubeMatutu
derick.khumalo