…as they move to improve service delivery
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- The Town Council’s 2021 ZW $90 Million devolution disbursements from central government have brought a relief to the local authority which has managed to make positive strides towards service delivery as they seek to fulfil their vision of becoming a municipality by 2025.
CTC has managed to procure necessary service delivery equipment to help in improving people’s lives in the fast growing sugarcane town.
CTC recently thanked President Emerson Mnangagwa for disbursing ZW$ 90 million devolution funds which was they had applied for in 2021 and managed to purchase high powered equipment meant to improve service delivery.
Speaking during a developmental Indaba organized by Chiredzi West Member of Parliament Farai Musikavanhu at Chitsanga Hall, where Ezra Chadzamira the Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo province was the guest of honour, Acting CTC Town Secretary, Engineer Wesley Kauma said devolution funds have brought relief to the local authority as they have managed to make a procurement of two crucial service delivery equipment including a refuse truck and fire tender which are yet to be delivered from China.
“In 2021, we bided for and were allocated ZW$ 90 million in devolution funds. Of the ZW$ 90 million, we managed to access and disburse ZW$ 40 million which we used towards the purchase of two equipment which are still in China. These equipment include a refuse compactor which was bought at the tune of ZW$ 16 million. As a local authority, we only have one refuse truck, so most of the time we encounter break downs while we do not have a backup.
“We also have plans to formulate a fire department as a local authority, so we also bought a Fire Tender truck to the tune of ZW$ 13 million. So we are expecting their arrival soon,” said Engineer Kauma.
The local authority also managed to purchase two tractors using another portion of the devolution funds and enhanced water reticulation in ward 7 to ease out water challenges.
“We also managed to buy two tractors, which we will ask minister Chadzamira to hand over to us. Besides this equipment, we have water challenges here in Chiredzi as our population is exponentially growing. We have managed to upgrade water reticulation in ward 7 where we erected another trunk line.
“We have also procured materials to repair one of our tanks which is dysfunctional, which we are partnering with the local government through GIZ towards its repair. We have also used another portion towards the upgrade of sewer reticulation in most areas which were troublesome. We have just finished the one in ward 1 and we are as well wrapping up sewer upgrades in ward 3,” added Engineer Kauma.
CTC also managed to procure four service delivery vehicles using internal funds.
