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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau

Mutasa Rural District Council has so far spent $245 000 of the $677 500 it received from Central Government on various development projects in line with the devolution programme.

The authority was allocated $677 500 and projects that have been undertaken include the completion of two clinics, the installation of an ICT server, construction of a bridge as well as a bus terminus, among others.

Mutasa RDC chief executive Mr George Bandure said before receiving the money, the council was not connected with its sub-offices, a situation which caused a lot of problems in revenue collection. “When we received the devolution funds, the first thing we did was procure a computer server which allowed us to link Mutasa district service centre to Hauna and Tsvingwe-Penhalonga sub offices. We want to be able to track payments made at the sub offices which makes it easy for consolidation,” he said.

He said the council has also installed fibre optic cables to ensure internet connectivity.

Council also used part of the funds to complete Tsvingwe clinic which has since been opened to the public, as well as Nyamkwarara clinic which council is expecting to commission on October 1.

Mr Bandure said council is also in the process of refurbishing the Sanyamandwe community hall which had succumbed to vagaries of weather.

“We are putting finishing touches on the hall and we hope it will be commissioned soon. We are also constructing a shed for Small to Medium Enterprises at Hauna so that our informal traders can have decent places to operate from,” said Mr Bandure.

Some of the projects have however been stalled by the shift in the economy, which have seen inflationary pressures erode value of the fund.

“We have seen an erosion in the real value for money as our macro-economic fundamentals have changed. This has meant that the buying power of our disbursements have also been affected. Also the shortage of fuel has impeded the implementation of some projects as delivery of materials take time,” he added.

To combat the challenge, Mr Bandure said council has agreed to bulk purchase some of the materials needed for the projects.

Projects that are also in the pipeline include renovations to Gatsi Old People’s home, the completion and connection of Chinyanjera tank as well as designs for Nyamukwarara bridge.