Umguza commissions $1,4m roads equipment

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
UMGUZA Rural District Council (RDC) yesterday commissioned road rehabilitation equipment worth $1,4 million. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Umguza legislator Dr Obert Mpofu warned council officials against abusing the equipment. Dr Mpofu, who is also the Minister of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, commissioned the equipment which includes graders, tipper trucks, a water bowser and excavators.

Government officials and representatives from all the RDCs in Matabeleland North converged at Mlandwa Secondary School for the event. Dr Mpofu challenged the RDC’s workers to desist from abusing the council equipment saying Umguza was recovering from a period where officials had sold developmental equipment.

“I also worked at Umguza RDC where I chaired the finance committee. We bought graders, dozers and tippers. We were doing wonders in the council. But after I left some council chairpersons started selling equipment. This project we’re witnessing today was started by Mrs Mpofu (his wife Sikhanyisiwe who was a councillor in a ward in the constituency) with other councillors a few years ago,” said Dr Mpofu.

He urged employees not to divert the equipment for personal use saying he once caught a driver entertaining three women in a tipper instead of doing his job.

Dr Mpofu said concerted efforts are needed for the province and the country to achieve full scale development.

“We want to develop our nation. There shouldn’t be any council that remains behind in terms of development, be it in Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Hwange or Binga. Let’s work together to develop our country. Development is about collaboration. That’s what we want for Umguza.”

The RDC’s acting chief executive officer Engineer Queen Masotsha said money from ratepayers was used to purchase the equipment.

“We’ve a major recapitalisation exercise as a council where we’ve managed to purchase equipment as a council for the past five years. We’ve managed to acquire equipment for service delivery. We believe this will reduce the cost of service delivery and positively impact on our ratepayers. The equipment cost us $1,4 million,” said Eng Masotsha.

Vice chairperson of RDCs in Matabeleland North and chairperson for Tsholotsho RDC Cde Alois Ndebele said despite economic challenges, Umguza RDC has set a good example for service delivery in the province. “The capacitation of Umguza is the capacitation of Tsholotsho and other RDCs in the province as they will be in a position to hire the equipment,” said Cde Ndebele.