Beatific Gumbwanda
Chiredzi Rural District Council (CRDC) is currently embracing the government’s National Development Strategy 1(NDS1) aimed at creating an upper middle income economy by 2030 by investing into life changing developmental projects in Health, Agriculture, Education and road infrastructure networking sectors.
In their 2022 vision, CRDC are making strides in the procurement of road maintenance equipment as well as promoting the learning and teaching of Science and Technology in some of their old schools, TellZim News can report.
Road infrastructure and maintenance
Among a number of life-changing developmental initiatives they are targeting to complete in 2022 is road construction as they are procuring a Motorized Grader as well as a Tipper to add to their road equipment fleet which will enable them to maintain roads in their area of jurisdiction.
In an interview CRDC Chief Executive Officer, Ailes Baloyi, said they have a five year strategic plan which is in line with the NDS1 and Vision 2030 with some of their aims being reflected by their 2022 budget which is accommodating projects aimed at uplifting people’s lives.
“We have a number of major projects which we are planning to achieve this year in various sectors. We are carrying over a project from 2021 where we are planning to procure a motorized grader and a tipper for road construction and maintenance.
“We have a lot of damaged roads due to these excessive rains, so we need to repair them. Over coming three months, we need to employ a qualified Civil engineer to help in road construction,” said Baloyi.
Health
CRDC will this year commission three Rural Health Centers in Gwaseche (ward 7), Rusununguko ward 32 and Turkey Heart in ward 28 as well as Romwe clinic which they are partnering with the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
“We are expecting to commission three clinics this year, though we are still doing some touch-ups on waste management and painting but we are definitely going to commission them this year.
“We have Gwaseche in ward 7, Rusununguko in ward 32 and Turkey Heart in ward 28. We also have Romwe clinic that is being constructed by the Airforce of Zimbabwe where we chipped in with assistance in form of borehole drilling,” said Baloyi.
Education
Baloyi also said they are planning to construct two science laboratories this year at two of their biggest schools which are Alpha Mpapa in Chikombedzi and Hanganani in ward 25.
“We now need to promote the teaching and learning of science and technology as we have budgeted to construct two science laboratories at two of our old schools which are Alpha Mpapa High School and Hlanganani,” added Baloyi.
Water and sanitation
Council has also moved to upgrade water and sanitation to one of its oldest growth points, Chikombedzi which is being serviced by a single borehole at the shopping centre as they have begun consulting the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
“We also have one of our growth points which is not developing at a pace that we desire like Chikombedzi. We are currently working with ZINWA to have a piped water scheme at the growth point as this is dragging construction of stands due to lack of water. Imagine using one borehole at the growth point. So we need to work on the water issue at Chikombedzi.
“At Rupangwana again in ward 4 (Save) there is no water but we have Save River flowing down into Limpopo River with its water not being utilized. So we need to enable it to grow faster by connecting water and this will also benefit ward 3 which is just across the road.
“At Resettlement areas there is a disaster. We need to work hand in glove with them in drilling at least a single borehole in each compound. There is also need to complement their effort of paying the rates we are giving them,” said Baloyi.
He also highlighted that there was need to utilize vast rich lands and water bodies that serve the district by establishing a new irrigation scheme of about 50-100 hectares, as they have already identified a flat land in ward 15.
“Food security is also key priority. We need to establish a medium irrigation scheme in order to utilize the vast water bodies in the district in order to fight hunger. We already have identified an area with flat lands in ward 15 which is suitable for that,” he said.
In 2022, CRDC is going to step up their stakeholder engagements in order to tap more ideas from residents that will help develop the district at large on a quarterly basis.
