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David Chapfika

Walter Mswazie Herald Correspondent
MASVINGO residents want the forthcoming 2018 National Budget statement to carter for student grants and health facilities in rural areas. This was revealed by Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development chairman Cde David Chapfika on the sidelines of 2018 National Budget consultations in Masvingo yesterday.

He said residents, who mainly comprised women and students from Great Zimbabwe University and Masvingo Polytechnic, called on the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to consider the plight of orphans, students in tertiary institutions and the elderly.

“We are happy with the turn out here in Masvingo regardless of the fact that there were many women and students from GZU and Masvingo Polytechnic,” Cde Chapfika said.

He said residents in Gutu called for the speed implementation of the projects at Tokwe-Mukosi Dam and the dualisation of Beitbridge-Harare Highway. “We are having a good turnout apart from Gweru where we had a few people attending our consultation meeting,” said Cde Chapfika. ‘In Masvingo, the participants are calling for the Minister responsible, to carter for students’ grants, orphans and health facilities in rural area, in the forthcoming national budget statement.

“Students want the issue of grants to be addressed as parents are finding it hard to pay fees. The participants also want many health centres and provision of water in the rural areas through borehole drilling.”

Cde Chapfika, who is also Mutoko South National Assembly Member, said the participants highlighted the need for the budget to consider the plight of the elderly through a fund that should improve their welfare.

“The participants want the provision of a fund within the national budget that will carter for the elderly people and orphans,” he said. “They want a fund that carters for these special groups.”

Government has said the dualisation project is expected to commence soon, while the issuing of fishing permits and 25 000 hectares irrigation projects at Tokwe-Mukosi Dam awaits the completion of a master plan.

Cde Chapfika said the committee was divided into two, with the other team catering for the northern region, while he leads the team for the southern region. He said today the committee is meeting Beitbridge residents in the morning, before moving to Gwanda in the afternoon, Bulawayo and Plumtree on Thursday and will end its programme in Victoria Falls on Friday.