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Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West  Bureau

THE Second Republic has been on a drive to ensure that Vision 2030 is attained.

With all Government ministries and departments’ hands-on-the-deck approach for the achievement of the milestone target, the Mashonaland West province communities were in 2023 year left basking in glory following hundreds of projects that were made possible through the availing of the Devolution Funds from the treasury.

The war chest has been released from the Government’s purse to enable the development of local communities across the country.

At least 100 projects were implemented in Mashonaland West province in 2023 from a total of over 360 that were carried out by the Second Republic since 2019.

The projects vary from health and education infrastructure, water and sanitation, and road-making equipment and the government is optimistic that all the impending projects were going to be completed.

A total of 198 projects are ongoing.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo told The Herald that: “Focus should now be on hard work to accelerate the completion of ongoing projects in our respective Local Authorities.

“To date as a Province, we have collectively achieved outstanding milestones that continue to improve the lives of ordinary citizens while leaving no one and no place behind. 

“We have successfully implemented many projects made under the capable leadership of the President ED Mnangagwa.”

Going forward, she said, the province needed to strive to leapfrog the socio-economic development, modernization, and industrialisation through high-impact results.

“It is the President’s directive that the public sector should shift from reporting activities and tasks to reporting results, output, and outcomes. 

“This shows that as heads of local authorities and districts are measured on their creativity and innovativeness to enhance socio-economic growth, modernisation, industrialisation, and competitiveness.”

In Zvimba district, the Zvimba Rural District Council (ZRDC) in 2023 managed to work on 25 classroom blocks to address educational infrastructure gaps.

Using the Devolution Funds, the council also engaged communities that provided bricks, quarry stones, sand, and labour towards the construction of the blocks.

ZRDC housing officer, Mr Onias Makanda said the construction of classroom blocks was aimed at increasing schools’ infrastructure in the district.

Zvimba North, East, and parts of South constituencies had limited schools with the influx of land beneficiaries constraining the already existing infrastructure.

The establishment of the 25 classroom blocks throughout its jurisdiction using Devolution Funds complements the Second Republic’s agenda of National Development Strategy.

The massive programme by the council to construct classroom blocks in the district sought to create a conducive learning environment and increase infrastructure in the communal and former white commercial farmers’ territory where schools were limited.

Construction of the blocks by the council was done in partnership with the community which provided manual labour and other building material like bricks, sand, and stones.

Zvimba villagers have lauded President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic for releasing the funds that have transformed their areas.

A youth from Haydock Farm in Ward 34, Ephraim Zinate said youths in the area were happy to support the council’s efforts.

Ephraim, a youth whose first born child learns at Haydock Primary School is among many who have been living in the area who have managed to witness successful efforts of the Second Republic after it released US$40 000 for the construction of a state-of-the-art classroom block through Devolution Funds.

The school which was established in 1990 with an enrolment of over 300 pupils, has only one block with two classrooms with many learners accessing lessons in dilapidated tobacco barns.

Mr December Malunga, the school’s Basic Education Accelerated Module (BEAM) secretary who said most parents in the area could not pay for their children’s fees, was grateful for the Devolution Funds.

“We have been failing to build more learning facilities for our children because most of the parents here live from hand to mouth. They fail to pay for their children’s fees which is critical for school development. With the coming in of Devolution Funds, we have managed to see development taking shape,” he said adding at least three more blocks and staff accommodation were needed at the school.

A contractor who won the tender to build the school, Mr David Banda who is now plastering the block which has reached 90 percent to completion said funds had helped him fend for his family.

Zvimba RDC housing manager Mr Makanda said the high-impact projects that the council was working on were meant to address challenges facing the community.

 “We have worked to complete about 25 classroom blocks around the district using Devolution and internal funds. The initiative has impacted our communities because most of our learners were travelling long distances to access facilities,” he said. 

“With the thrust which the local authority has put on the education sector and the Devolution Funds we are receiving from the central government, our learners are accessing learning facilities within walkable distances.

 “Construction of the Haydock School classroom block that commenced last year and was finished this year. The local leadership is active in mobilising their communities and we are expected to set up another block there this year.”

The thrust, he also added, was aimed at retaining staff as the district was hit with a massive exodus of teachers.

Classroom blocks at Mvou (Ward 30), Maringowe (Ward 32), Ndare (Ward 30), and Oxford (Ward 33) Primary Schools have all reached roof level with the council now dispatching the material to the respective institutions.

The coming of the Devolution Funds to support the council’s development agenda has brought smiles to the communities.

On top of that, the Zvimba RDC using the same funds has also invested in the construction and rehabilitation of dip tanks to aid towards the country’s livestock growth.

Zvimba like other districts across the province and the entire nation battled livestock diseases that decimated mainly cattle. The decision by the council to invest in dip Tank infrastructure was lauded by the community with Chief Zvimba (Stanley Mhondoro) commending the council for being people-centred. 

The council also managed to invest some of the funds in the construction of clinics to address healthcare challenges.

The council also had a target to complete 80 projects, managing 51 this year. 

Devolution Funds also brought smiles to Hurungwe, the country’s second-biggest rural district council as schools and clinics were prioritised.

Mr Enias Chidhakwa, the ZRDC chief executive officer, vowed to use Devolution Funds released by the central government to develop Zvimba district.

Hurungwe RDC’s acting chief executive officer, Ms Felistas Muteta said the district was rallying behind President Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans to help build their nation.

A total of 89 projects were earmarked in Hurungwe with 20 having been completed.

Of importance was the Vhuti Clinic which it managed to construct using the funds. Its completion reduced the distance that the people travelled to access health care services at Nyamakate and Karoi.

The council also invested in the purchase of yellow machinery, schools, and the rehabilitation of roads.

In Chegutu, the Chegutu Rural District Council also brought smiles to the communities it serves. From Chegutu East, West, and Mhondoro-Mubaira, communities have been on cloud nine as Devolution Funds change their lives.

Chegutu RDC which purchased its first yellow machinery since the 1970s using Devolution Funds, has been prioritising the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the area.

It also managed to finish Katawa Clinic which was also constructed using the same funds to service its rural community.

Norton Town Council town secretary Mr Tongai Mandude said the funds two had seen the local authority purchase a grader, and back-hole loader and constructed classroom blocks among other projects using the Devolution Funds.

The joy has been the same for Makonde district where state-of-the-art clinics constructed using Devolution Funds were this year commissioned.

The then Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka who commissioned Mpata and Gandawasvika Clinics in Wards 13 and 11, commended the council for putting the funds to good use.

Council’s chief executive officer, Mr Paradzai Munyede said Devolution Funds had also seen the Makonde dedicate another share towards the construction of Magogi Clinic whose completion is expected to reduce distance travelled.

The Devolution Funds also changed the face of Karoi Town, Municipalities of Chegutu, Kariba, Chinhoyi, and Kadoma City where apart from the purchase of yellow machines, the dedication was also put on water and sewer reticulation.