‘Spreading services to districts top priority’

Mukudzei Chingwere in Hwedza

The Second Republic is determined to sustain development and bring public services closer to the people through the construction of a composite Government office complex in every administrative district, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.

VP Chiwenga said this yesterday morning when he commissioned the Hwedza Government Composite Office phase 1, a three-storey building with 57 offices.

The completion of the first phase will see almost all Government departments at district level immediately moving in and thus taking service to the people in line with Government’s development agenda.

The project was started back in 2004, but had stalled only for construction work to resume in 2021 in the Second Republic as President Mnangagwa paced up with a nationwide infrastructure development whirlwind that is transforming the country’s infrastructure.

The Vice President also highlighted that Government was also pacing up the completion of composite district office complexes in Filabusi, Lupane, Mutoko and Siakobvu and was targeting even more in other parts of the country in line with President Mnangagwa’s devolution thrust.

“Today’s ceremony marks yet another milestone achievement by the Second Republic, under the able and trusted leadership of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” said VP Chiwenga.

“The completion of these projects comes at an opportune time as Government continues to honour its pledge and demonstrate its commitment to the objective of bringing public services closer to the people.

“Due to the strategic nature of this project for this district, focus was put on phase one which consists of Block B, whose commissioning we witnessed today. Phase 2 will comprise the construction of Block A and other ancillary buildings and infrastructure.

“Whilst we acknowledge that there is a backlog of some projects, Government is equally determined to tackle them head-on so that our people can enjoy the same services and benefits equitably,” he said.

He said the office complex construction program will continue in conjunction with other infrastructure development projects which have so far seen the Second Republic undertaking several high impact projects through the construction of dams, roads rehabilitation, national irrigation capacity development, health facilities and energy and power generation infrastructure.

But for this to be achieved, he said the populace needed unity of purpose and forging ahead under the development-oriented leadership of President Mnangagwa and thus urged the electorate to resoundingly vote for Team Zanu PF at national polls on Wednesday.

“The Government will continue to implement more life-changing and high-impact programmes so as to transform livelihoods,” said VP Chiwenga.

“As we celebrate the completion of phase 1 of this project, it is important that we appreciate that these achievements are only possible if we are united, peaceful and focused under one common vision.

“The Second Republic has shown, time and again, that it has the best interests of the people of Zimbabwe at heart and has proved that it is only us, its people who can develop it, as the President has reiterated that, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’.

“Together, we have overcome the headwinds that came our way and, through the President His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership, our country and economy is well positioned for sustained growth for the achievement of Vision 2030,” said VP Chiwenga.

Locals who spoke to The Herald after the commissioning thanked Government for bringing services closer to them.

Mr Lovemore Mukombe said, “We are happy with the commissioning of these offices which means we will no longer be traveling to Marondera and Harare for Government services like passports and national identification cards.

“This is true of Second Republic’s mantra that no one and no place will be left behind,” said Mr Mukombe.

Mr Howard Musamvu said, “this is the development we want not that everything is done in cities. Government is delivering on its promises and on Wednesday we will give President Mnangagwa’s administration another term,” said Mr Musamvu.