Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru– Delays in the disbursement of the 2022 devolution funds by the Central government to Gweru council has been seen as a major setback to the city’s development as a number of projects are reported to be lying idle considering that the mid-fiscal term year has gone by.
Gweru residents expressed worry over the late disbursements of this year’s funds saying the timeframe had already affected the level of development as some projects required enough resources.
Gweru Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee said as a local authority they are still waiting for the disbursement of the 2022 funds.
“The planned and proposed 2022 projects have not yet taken shape. We haven’t yet received our allocation as Gweru city. We just hope that the funds will come timeously so that we can execute our planned programmes.
“However as a local authority, we are very grateful to government for these funds because they have given us a milestone in terms of development, we have managed to implement some of the projects and we have achieved a lot as a city,” she said.
Some of the projects which are yet to be implemented by the City of Gweru include the purchase of a refuse compactor which was pegged at ZW$ 34 798 229, rehabilitation of the sewer treatment plant at a cost of ZW$ 36 311196, the new landfill site which requires ZW$ 48 414 928, tower lights which require ZW$ 21 181 531, the construction of two fire stations , the city master plan, Mtapa markets, road maintenance works and purchase of office equipment, traffic lights, water infrastructure, utility vehicles and construction of a classroom block at a local school with the total planned devolution budget amounting to ZW$ 300 million.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director Conerlia Selipiwe said, information regarding the disbursement of the funds was not always availed to residents on time.
“I think we need to understand something regarding the issue of devolution funds especially at City of Gweru. Of late, we had taken council to task urging them to plan with us residents. We want inclusivity and to be on board on all the projects which council is implementing because as citizens we have a critical role to play in the development of our city.
“We have been having a problem with our local authority. Yes, delays are there we understand but as council they don’t tell residents on how the disbursement are going on or even to disclose the amount received. We then end up looking for other means or ways to get that information.
“This year’s funds have indeed been delayed but we believe information dissemination is crucial in development,” said Selipiwe.
He added that the Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) was supposed to actively advocate for the disbursement of devolution funds on time to all local authorities.
“We have the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ), if you look at this board it is comprised of councillors. So our plea as residents is for this board to then advocate to the relevant ministry so that money is disbursed early.
“It is then good to have such communication done fast so that the funds can be disbursed earlier for the benefit of the community,” he added.
A resident, Melusi Mpofu of ward 5 however urged council to find ways to seek the remaining balance of the 2021 devolution fund saying they only got approximately a quarter of its last year’s allocation.
“As for this year, we feel we are lagging behind and it’s a major setback to the city. We also want last year’s funds to be accounted for,” Mpofu said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Midlands Provincial Development Coordinator, Abiot Maronge were fruitless as he could not be reached for comment through his mobile phone.
Last year Gweru city council was allocated ZW$ 132 million as devolution funds. The local authority however managed to get about ZW$ 85 million with the remainder yet to be accessed.
The funds saw the procurement of an Ambulance, a Tipper and Backhoe loader among other things.
