Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- Rural District Council (CRDC) has managed to utilize its share from the $19, 5 billion devolution fund this year disbursed by the Central Bank towards life changing projects that permeate all facets of life in the health sector, road networking, education and environmental issues.
The amount allocated was however walloped by the increasing inflation and they managed to undertake projects through smart partnerships with local companies.
CRDC has managed to evenly distribute the strained devolution funds across the district covering critical areas with the help of various companies and safari operators.
Chiredzi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema who was part of the entourage of the devolution projects tour applauded the local authority’s smart partnership initiative towards life changing projects.
“We have been touring the district for the purpose of appreciating works that are being done by the local authority which is Chiredzi RDC to be specific and generally I can say I am happy with what I have seen which is evidence that the devolution funds are being utilized and it’s also an appreciation for the president for making sure that these funds are going to local authorities.
“This has made government to come closer to the people through its third tier which is the local authority that comes in to provide services which are necessary for the people.
“Of late, local authorities have been struggling financially so this is their bail out. We are also going to make sure that those areas lagging behind are developed especially the newly resettled areas,” said Chisema.
CHISAMBIJI ROAD
CRDC made a smart partnership with a local company, COAL Zimbabwe to gravel a 15 kilometre road stretch in ward 25 which is going to benefit the community as well as the company to transport its products.
Chisema said it was a smart partnership between council and Coal Zimbabwe that enabled the road to be trafficable.
“This is a smart partnership between council and the private company that enabled resurfacing of the road. This brought a trafficable road to our community as devolution has now brought the government closer to the community using the third tier of government which is the CRDC,” said Chisema.
RUSUNUNGUKO CLINIC
Rusununguko Clinic is another product of smart partnership between the local authority and Malilangwe Trust, where a portion of the Devolution funds was channelled towards the completion of the clinic.
Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ailes Baloyi said Malilangwe Conservation Trust runs the local authority’s wildlife area called the Mhangula Triangle where the community benefits directly from the proceeds.
“Malilangwe Trust operates the local authority’s Mhangula Triangle where the community here directly benefit from the proceeds. Devolution chipped in towards the completion of the clinic which is only due for commissioning. The clinic is set to service more than 24 000 people who were accessing basic health care services at Chiredzi General Hospital,” said Baloyi.
BUFFALO RANGE WATER WORKS
CRDC is currently servicing state of the art 1000 low density stands in Buffalo Range where they have partnered with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to upgrade the water works facility as well as purchase of a new pump to cater for the Buffalo Range stands.
They have also purchased a bigger transformer for the water works.
TURKEY HUT CLINIC
CRDC is in the process of refurbishing Turkey Hut Clinic in ward 28, where they are now renovating two houses which were donated by farmers using devolution funds.
“We are in the process of renovating these houses which were donated by farmers. So we are currently connecting water to the houses as well as fencing the quarters. We hope it will be up and running soon,” said Baloyi.
PAHLELA SECONDARY SCHOOL
Pahlela Secondary School will bridge the gap between Alpha Mpapa High School in Chikombedzi which is 25 kilometres away and Malipati High School which is also 25 kilometres away.
CRDC in partnership with the community have channelled devolution funds towards the construction of a single block and the other one is expected soon.
The school is coming as a smart partnership between CAMPFIRE project and devolution where they are also expecting to construct toilets and teachers’ houses in order for the school to start running.
MASUKWE CLINIC
Ward 13 has been short of health facilities as they would walk about 11 kilometres to Pahlela Rural Health Care centre or 15 kilometers to Chikombedzi Mission Hospital to seek medical services.
Though the clinic was mainly constructed by CAMPFIRE funds from the Malipati Communal Area, CRDC also chipped in with devolution funds to help in the completion of the clinic which is now almost complete.
CRDC Executive Officer for Environment, Agriculture and Tourism, Chenjerai Zanamwe said though devolution funds are little, they are helping in the transformation of communities to better standards and council through devolution will chip in with the incinerator and the clinic is expected to be complete next year.
“Devolution is a concept which began a long time ago when it comes to my area of natural resources management especially the campfire project where we were given power by the Wildlife Act for people to benefit from their natural resources through campfire projects. Communities get 55% from the hunts which they use for social development and we have 32 beneficiary wards as we surround the Gonarezhou National Park,” said Zanamwe.
Mhlanguleni Primary School
Early Childhood Development (ECD Aand B) were conducting lessons under trees before the school opted to utilize little resources it had to construct a two classroom block but their resources ran out before completion. CRDC, through devolution stepped in supplying asbestos for the roof and now toddlers are happily learning.
Gwaseche Clinic ward 7
It was the community initiative that began in 2013 with villagers moulding bricks. CRDC intervened with devolution funds through the purchase of cement, roofing material,window frames and panes. The project is almost complete with well painted nurses’ houses. It is awaiting commissioning.
