Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
TSHOLOTSHO will host the Matabeleland North provincial Independence Day commemorations this year, as the province fulfils the Government’s decentralisation agenda and seeks to showcase the positive gains achieved so far.
Last year, the province held its commemorations in Binga, and the previous year in Umguza, as part of the rotation of national events.
The country will celebrate Independence Day on April 18, with Gokwe, Midlands, hosting the national celebrations.
The commemorations will run under the theme: “@45 Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030.”
Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said Tsholotsho is expected to benefit from hosting Independence Day celebrations.
“Tsholotsho District will hold our Independence Day commemorations this year. We are doing this in line with President Mnangagwa’s policy that the Government should rotate national events,” he said.
“This year, Midlands is hosting the national Independence Day commemorations, and we know that hosting such events brings about economic development. Roads will be rehabilitated, while other infrastructure will be constructed,” said Minister Moyo.
“As we prepare to host the Independence Day commemorations in Tsholotsho, we have instructed Umguza and Tsholotsho Rural District Councils, as well as the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida), to work together in rehabilitating the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.”
He emphasised the importance of urgently rehabilitating Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road, as this will increase traffic volumes leading up to Independence Day commemorations.
Minister Moyo said other development projects are expected to be rolled out in Tsholotsho, as the hosting of national events should benefit locals.
He stated that the rotational commemorations are also symbolic of the inclusive development that the Second Republic is promoting across the country.
As part of efforts to bring services closer to the people, Minister Moyo said the Government has decentralised Civil Registry Offices.
“In the past, there were only a few places where citizens could obtain national documents such as passports, birth certificates, and national IDs in Matabeleland North.
“But since the advent of the Second Republic, we now have more places providing these services to communities,” said Minister Moyo.
“In Matabeleland North, it is no longer just Lupane and Hwange offering this service. We are in the process of constructing a registry office in Binga, and we are already providing this service in Tsholotsho. Another centre is also being built in the Nkunzi area of Tsholotsho South.
“So, we will have two offices, which will help bring services closer to the community. We are grateful to the President for his vision and for advancing the devolution agenda.”
Minister Moyo added that the Second Republic has also transformed local authorities by disbursing devolution funds.
“Last year, due to the drought, the Government was unable to disburse the funds, and today we learned how local authorities were raising concerns over the delays in disbursement.
“The devolution funds are transformative for communities, and this is all thanks to President Mnangagwa’s vision,” he said.
Binga Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Joshua Muzamba, said the devolution agenda is critical to local development.
“We are thankful for the Civil Registry offices that are being built in Binga. They will go a long way in improving service delivery. We had people who used to travel as far as Lupane or Hwange to obtain birth certificates, IDs, or even passports,” he said. “So, even those with queries will have them resolved more easily within the district,” said Mr Muzamba.
He raised concerns over delays in the disbursement of devolution funds, saying this was crippling services in local authorities.
Bubi Rural District Council chief executive officer, Dr Patson Mlilo, also expressed similar concerns over delays in the disbursement of devolution funds. He appealed to Minister Moyo to intervene to ensure that local authorities can pay for services already rendered.
“We have incurred debts that we had hoped to settle if we had received devolution funds. As part of our efforts to streamline services, we completed masterplans last year, and our appeal is to receive disbursements of devolution funds in larger batches. That is our appeal as Matabeleland North local authorities,” he said.
