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Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau

For over two decades, the Beitbridge community has been clamouring for key public infrastructure development.

Some wished for the availability of people centred service delivery.

Several years went by, and for many residents in a district with an estimated 200 000 people, this seemed to be a perennial elusive dream.

Some had to endure the unavailability of a standard school, access to primary health care facilities, bad roads and water and sanitation facilities.

However, true to the old saying, “Its better late than never”!

The Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa has opened a new chapter of accelerated infrastructure development and improved service delivery in local authorities through the full use of the devolution funds.

In Beitbridge millions have been spent under the Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) and Municipality respectively.

Before 2019, these local authorities with their meagre revenue base had been struggling to match service delivery and rapid population growth.

According to Beitbridge District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu-Moyo, service delivery has gradually been improving in the areas as the Government continues injecting  funds for capital projects under the devolution initiative.

“You will note that service delivery is one of the major roles of the local authorities, and before 2019 most of these were struggling in matching the population growth and services,” said Mrs Mafu-Moyo.

“The release of funds through the devolution concept has been a relief and a life saver for the local authorities which have been able to invest in public infrastructure development and other key services.

“With the revenue derived from rates, it had become impossible for them to remain viable and we are grateful to the central government which has contributed a lot in changing the face of our district.”

She said the unavailability of schools, clinics and other services such as water and sanitation was gradually becoming a thing of the past.

Both local authorities have been able to make head way in infrastructure development and the procurement of necessary equipment.

In some instances, she added, the construction of schools and clinics had bridged the gap on community development challenges.

“We are pleased to note that more schools have been built to cater for the rural population. This also helps improve the transition rate of children from primary level to secondary level of education,” said Mrs Mafu–Moyo.

“We don’t expect to have more issues of school drop outs. In the public health sector, we are happy to note that some new clinics have been built while some have had their capacity improved to better handle our community members.”

She said it was critical for local authorities to match economic development by investing in the requisite infrastructure for its population.

The availability of ideal social amnesties, most of which are a result of the devolution mantra, Mrs Mafu-Moyo said was important in improving the general living standards for Zimbabweans.

She added that it was also critical for Treasury to timeously release the funds allocated to councils under the concept so that they are expeditiously invested in projects without being eroded by inflationary forces.

“We have managed to buy service delivery equipment, vehicles and also build two roomed houses, and we are currently building a primary school and also a clinic in the town,” said Beitbridge Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola.

“In addition, we also put a solar power back up system at our council offices, which comes in handy when there is no electricity.”

Among other things the local authority has in the last four years managed to procure a refuse compactor truck, and earth moving equipment, upgraded its ICT facilities and procured two service vehicles.

They also built five two-roomed houses to address the colonial problem of crowding in the Dulivhadzimu suburbs. The council is targeting to build a set of 28 new two roomed houses.

Recently, it completed construction of a new primary school in the Khwalu 2 suburb, west of the border town.

The Herald established that the town has a shortage of four primary and two secondary schools. Ideally, the council needs to have a primary school for every 5000 people and one secondary school with three feeder primary schools.

The town has an estimated population of 100 000 with three secondary and six official primary schools.

“As a local authority, we appreciate the intervention by the national government which has made us very visible in meeting survival delivery requirements in the community,” said BBRDC chief executive officer, Mr Peter Moyo.

“Among other things, we were able to, in the last four years, build a the new Dumba Clinic in Ward 2, build a new primary school, Novhe Primary School in Ward 10, construct two F14 houses for staff at Chabili Clinic and electrifying the whole clinic which is now open to the public.”

He said the local authority had been hit hard by climate related disasters and that they used some of the devolution funds to repair damaged infrastructure at several clinics and schools.

These are; Shashe Clinic (reroofing and ceiling of a clinic), Chabeta Pry School (rehabilitation of a classroom Block), Mazunga Clinic (Fix and Supply Sluice, Repairs to water and sewer system), Mapani (Number 14) Primary School (Reroofing of a classroom block) and Mpande Pry School (Rehabilitation of a Classroom Block).

Mr Moyo said they had also carried out further repairs at Tshitulipasi Secondary School (classroom block Reroofing), bought a backhoe, built the Malibeng Cattle Sale Pens and procured a supervision vehicle to boost the implementation of major capital projects.

“Development funds have helped to complete key projects in the district such as the Dumba Clinic. Resources are limited everywhere and the need for investment in infrastructure projects is always growing,” said a career development worker, Mr Enock Kwinika.

“It is therefore critical for communities to make significant contributions to complement government efforts of investing in infrastructure projects,” he added.

Ward 15 senior village head, Mr Oscar Singo said the availability of the devolution funds helped the Government to meet some of its commitments in attaining selected Strategic Development Goals (SDGs), especially on those relating to public health.

Another development agent, Mr Liberty Masilinge said the fund was critical for community development especially in rural areas where basic infrastructure is still lagging behind.

Some areas still lack health institutions, schools, roads, potable water sources and some community productive assets like dip tanks, irrigation schemes and dams.

“The fund helps to reach some areas which are far away from the main centres, hence fulfilling the, not leaving no one or place behind, the mantra which the President is promoting,” he said.

“Another benefit of this model is that rate stabilisation will occur especially in urban areas due to reduced pressure on funding capital projects.

“Ratepayers won’t feel the pinch of paying those high rates because the fund will cover some gaps on essential infrastructure like roads construction, sanitation improvements, and new machinery.”

He went on: “As a development practitioner, one important arm for accountability is the Monitoring and Evaluation office. Government t must have such officers in all tiers of governance, be it national, regional or local, to monitor fund usage, quality work and impact. This will assist in learning to influence future decisions.”

Beitbridge senior traditional leader, Chief Stauze (David Mbedzi) commended the Government for walking the talk in implementing devolution related projects.

He, however said it was important for community members and traditional leaders to be periodically consulted so that projects are carried out in order of priority.

He said development should start from the grassroots level and hence every role player must deliver on their part.

 @tupeyo.