Roy Bhila
Beatific
Gumbwanda
Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-
Leadership here is at logger heads over the stewardship of the $610 000
devolution money given to the Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) with the
local authority resolving to construct their new offices while legislators in
the district demand that the money be channeled towards projects that benefits
people.
Leadership here is at logger heads over the stewardship of the $610 000
devolution money given to the Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) with the
local authority resolving to construct their new offices while legislators in
the district demand that the money be channeled towards projects that benefits
people.
A few weeks ago, Chiredzi RDC
councillors resolved to use the $610 000 to construct new offices but Members
of Parliament Roy Bhila and Farai Musikavanhu have castigated the council
saying the money should be channeled towards people project.
councillors resolved to use the $610 000 to construct new offices but Members
of Parliament Roy Bhila and Farai Musikavanhu have castigated the council
saying the money should be channeled towards people project.
Chiredzi district is one of the biggest
and poorest districts in Masvingo Province with poor health facilities,
infrastructure and educational facilities and it got a huge chunk of devolution
funds owing to the high poverty index.
and poorest districts in Masvingo Province with poor health facilities,
infrastructure and educational facilities and it got a huge chunk of devolution
funds owing to the high poverty index.
Chiredzi RDC chairman, Edward Matsilele,
said they made consultations over the use of the devolution funds and have
shelved the motion of constructing their offices and channel the money towards
development projects.
said they made consultations over the use of the devolution funds and have
shelved the motion of constructing their offices and channel the money towards
development projects.
“Considering that we do not have
offices as a local authority, we had thought of constructing our offices but
through various consultations from stakeholders, we have redirected the funds
towards improving our rural health facilities,” said Matsilele.
offices as a local authority, we had thought of constructing our offices but
through various consultations from stakeholders, we have redirected the funds
towards improving our rural health facilities,” said Matsilele.
ZANU PF Secretary for information,
Ronald Ndava reprimanded the local authority for failing to realise the
importance and use of devolution funds as he called construction of council
offices using devolution funds as pagan.
Ronald Ndava reprimanded the local authority for failing to realise the
importance and use of devolution funds as he called construction of council
offices using devolution funds as pagan.
Ndava said devolution funds are aimed at
improving lives through upgrading health systems, infrastructure (roads and
bridges), irrigation schemes as well as educational facilities.
improving lives through upgrading health systems, infrastructure (roads and
bridges), irrigation schemes as well as educational facilities.
“Devolution funds should just
target life changing projects like irrigation schemes such as Chilonga and
Rupangwana.
target life changing projects like irrigation schemes such as Chilonga and
Rupangwana.
“The grassroots should feel it, the
devolution thrust is not aimed at benefiting local authority but constituencies
they serve. Construction of local authority offices using devolution money is
nonsensical and rubbish,” said Ndava.
devolution thrust is not aimed at benefiting local authority but constituencies
they serve. Construction of local authority offices using devolution money is
nonsensical and rubbish,” said Ndava.
Chiredzi North MP, Roy Bhila said council
was not supposed to make resolutions before consulting stakeholders as
devolution money was supposed to target life changing projects, which they will
identify rather than diverting all the money on the construction of offices.
was not supposed to make resolutions before consulting stakeholders as
devolution money was supposed to target life changing projects, which they will
identify rather than diverting all the money on the construction of offices.
“Devolution funds should devolve to
the wards. We wrote to the council chairman and minister complaining over
directing all the devolution chunk to the construction of their offices as if
they do not have anywhere to use, the money should cascade to life changing
projects in wards, not only my wards but wherever there is need,” said
Bhila.
the wards. We wrote to the council chairman and minister complaining over
directing all the devolution chunk to the construction of their offices as if
they do not have anywhere to use, the money should cascade to life changing
projects in wards, not only my wards but wherever there is need,” said
Bhila.
