Zimpapers Logo

Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter
Zanu PF provincial structures have backed the Government’s thrust on devolution to develop provincial economies in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.

This comes after President Mnangagwa recently said the devolution principle adopted by Government was in line with the objective to implement locally-driven initiatives.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo said the province was aiming at improving the livelihoods of marginalised communities.

Minister Moyo said they recently received devolution funds which would be directed at starting developmental projects to cushion communities from the prevailing economic challenges.

“We want to thank our Government for coming up with this initiative on devolution,” he said.

“All our rural district councils were given monies for this devolution programme to start their developmental projects in their respective districts and we are looking forward to making sure that the people in the province are well catered for and cushioned from the economic challenges.

“As from the end of January, we have started food for work programmes in order to create employment for the communities. “Then for drought relief, through Government’s help, as from last year we were giving vulnerable people, child headed families and the elderly people food relief.”

The revolutionary party’s Midlands provincial chairperson Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube said the province was taking the devolution thrust seriously, hence they were in the process of identifying projects.

Eng Ncube said school blocks and clinics were under construction in the province to ensure the attainment of Vision 2030.

“As the Midlands Province, we take devolution seriously,” he said.

“We have been encouraging our people to work closely with the elected councillors to identify projects which can be funded using devolution funds.

“A number of clinics, school blocks etc, are currently at different stages of construction.  The provincial minister has also embarked on an intensive exercise of addressing all the 14 councils both urban and rural in this regard.”

Eng Ncube said solutions to floods being experienced in the province and drought relief intervention measures were in place and the situation was under control.

“Where flush floods have been experienced like in some parts of Gokwe, the Ministry of Local Government, through district administrators, has promptly stepped in to provide immediate relief to all those affected,” said Eng Ncube.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Monica Mavhunga said some of the devolution funds had been directed at assisting communities affected by heavy rains that caused floods and destroyed infrastructure and crops.

She said the province was in the process of rehabilitating and constructing new bridges to ensure ease of access.

“We recently received our devolution funds and they have been disbursed to local authorities,” said Cde Mavhunga. “Some of the money has been directed towards relieving those communities affected by the recent storms experienced in the province and for infrastructure development to make sure communities have necessary services like clinics, schools.

“Most of our bridges are not in good condition and some rivers do not even have bridges, so we are working on rehabilitating existing bridges and constructing new ones where there are no bridges, for example at Hoya River.”