Fungai Mbetsa
…as minister demands breakdown from local authorities
Upenyu
Chaota.
Chaota.
MASVINGO
– In the 2019
national budget, government allocated a total of $703 million towards
devolution, but questions about transparency in how the money is being used at
local level are already being asked.
– In the 2019
national budget, government allocated a total of $703 million towards
devolution, but questions about transparency in how the money is being used at
local level are already being asked.
The money, government said, was going to be disbursed
to provinces and then distributed down to local authorities through Provincial
Development Coordinators working together with the ministry of Local Government.
to provinces and then distributed down to local authorities through Provincial
Development Coordinators working together with the ministry of Local Government.
Government, however, is yet to come up with an
operational framework which will guide how the devolution process will work and
how the money will be used. This means that the process within which government
is distributing the money could be irregular as the legal guiding framework has
not been established.
operational framework which will guide how the devolution process will work and
how the money will be used. This means that the process within which government
is distributing the money could be irregular as the legal guiding framework has
not been established.
Without the operational framework and the absence of
the provincial councils to superintend over the funds, there are a lot of transparency
questions being asked, with some local authorities being accused of diverting
the money from their intended use, or using the money for profligate purposes.
the provincial councils to superintend over the funds, there are a lot of transparency
questions being asked, with some local authorities being accused of diverting
the money from their intended use, or using the money for profligate purposes.
The devolution funds are supposed to be used for
developmental projects benefiting communities, and the communities themselves
need to have a say of priority projects.
developmental projects benefiting communities, and the communities themselves
need to have a say of priority projects.
Masvingo received its first batch of devolution funds to
the tune of $33 million in February this year and was distributed to local authorities.
the tune of $33 million in February this year and was distributed to local authorities.
Some districts got bigger chunks than others depending
on population and poverty indexes.
on population and poverty indexes.
Bikita
received $3.2 million, Chiredzi $5.6 million, Chivi $3 million, Gutu $3.8
million, Masvingo RDC $4.6 million, Mwenezi RDC $3.9 million, Zaka RDC $3.3
million, Masvingo City $893 000 and Chiredzi Town Council $394 000.
received $3.2 million, Chiredzi $5.6 million, Chivi $3 million, Gutu $3.8
million, Masvingo RDC $4.6 million, Mwenezi RDC $3.9 million, Zaka RDC $3.3
million, Masvingo City $893 000 and Chiredzi Town Council $394 000.
The
second batch of $31 million came in June this year and Chiredzi and Mwenezi
Rural District Councils received the biggest chunks.
second batch of $31 million came in June this year and Chiredzi and Mwenezi
Rural District Councils received the biggest chunks.
Chiredzi
Rural District Council received $3 211 876.51 followed by Mwenezi with $3 044
337.54. Bikita received $2 892 547.40 for Bikita, Gutu $2 877794.38, Zaka $2 931
952.88, Masvingo Rural $2 726 580.37 and Chivi $2 832 894.
Rural District Council received $3 211 876.51 followed by Mwenezi with $3 044
337.54. Bikita received $2 892 547.40 for Bikita, Gutu $2 877794.38, Zaka $2 931
952.88, Masvingo Rural $2 726 580.37 and Chivi $2 832 894.
Masvingo
City Council and Chiredzi Town Council received $1 779 826.58 and $1 870 792.22
respectively.
City Council and Chiredzi Town Council received $1 779 826.58 and $1 870 792.22
respectively.
Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator Fungai Mbetsa
said that the devolution funds have to be used after proper consultations with
the communities but expressed concern over some local authorities, whom he
could not name since they are still investigating, who are abusing the funds.
said that the devolution funds have to be used after proper consultations with
the communities but expressed concern over some local authorities, whom he
could not name since they are still investigating, who are abusing the funds.
“We have received reports of some local authorities
who are diverting the devolution funds from their intended purpose. These funds
should be used in a manner that benefits and upgrade the lives of people in the
communities not to build council offices and buy furniture as we are
establishing.
who are diverting the devolution funds from their intended purpose. These funds
should be used in a manner that benefits and upgrade the lives of people in the
communities not to build council offices and buy furniture as we are
establishing.
“We are doing investigations into the use of the
devolution funds by our local authorities,” said Mbetsa.
devolution funds by our local authorities,” said Mbetsa.
The Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs
Ezra Chadzamira has called on all recipients of the devolution funds in the
province to present their breakdowns on how they used their shares of the
money.
Ezra Chadzamira has called on all recipients of the devolution funds in the
province to present their breakdowns on how they used their shares of the
money.
Chadzamira told TellZim News that it was important to
be transparent with the devolution funds which is why they are calling on all
the local authorities who received money for their districts to present their
breakdowns on how they used the money.
be transparent with the devolution funds which is why they are calling on all
the local authorities who received money for their districts to present their
breakdowns on how they used the money.
“We want transparency with the devolution funds. The
money released by the government to the province has been distributed to the
local authorities and each has to tell us how they used the money.
money released by the government to the province has been distributed to the
local authorities and each has to tell us how they used the money.
“The devolution funds have to be used to develop and
improve the lives of our people,” said Chadzamira.
improve the lives of our people,” said Chadzamira.
He said that some local authorities were using the
devolution funds to build administration offices and furnish their offices.
devolution funds to build administration offices and furnish their offices.
“The community has to agree on the use of the money.
It should not be decided in the office by one person or two.
It should not be decided in the office by one person or two.
“We have been receiving reports of some local
authorities who have been using the devolution funds to upgrade their offices.
What will our people benefit when a local authority builds an administration
block and buy furniture for their offices?
authorities who have been using the devolution funds to upgrade their offices.
What will our people benefit when a local authority builds an administration
block and buy furniture for their offices?
“We will be getting to know how the funds have been
used when each of the local authorities present their breakdowns,” said
Chadzamira.
used when each of the local authorities present their breakdowns,” said
Chadzamira.
TellZim News established that Chiredzi RDC had
resolved to use the devolution funds to build an administration block so that
they can decongest the offices they are sharing with the Chiredzi Town Council.
resolved to use the devolution funds to build an administration block so that
they can decongest the offices they are sharing with the Chiredzi Town Council.
Chiredzi RDC Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Mikia Majatame however refused to comment on the matter saying he was not aware
of such a resolution but said they had plans to build an administration block
which he refused to disclose the source of funding.
Mikia Majatame however refused to comment on the matter saying he was not aware
of such a resolution but said they had plans to build an administration block
which he refused to disclose the source of funding.
“I am not aware of such a resolution. All I can tell
you is that we have plans to construct a new administration block,” said
Majatame.
you is that we have plans to construct a new administration block,” said
Majatame.
Mwenezi RDC has also been accused of using devolution
funds to refurbish their offices and buy office furniture.
funds to refurbish their offices and buy office furniture.
Mwenezi RDC CEO Albert Chivanga could not be drawn
into comment but inside sources said that a resolution was made but was quickly
revoked after a public outcry.
into comment but inside sources said that a resolution was made but was quickly
revoked after a public outcry.
“Our offices are in bad shape and they need to be
refurbished. The council does not have money so they decided to take part of
the devolution money to face lift the offices and buy furniture.
refurbished. The council does not have money so they decided to take part of
the devolution money to face lift the offices and buy furniture.
“People complained and threatened to report to higher
offices and the council decided to let the storm calm,” said the source.
offices and the council decided to let the storm calm,” said the source.
