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| Alexander Mutembwa |
Clayton Shereni
Healthcare
facilities that had stalled due to the unavailability of funds in Gutu will now
be completed this year courtesy of the devolution funds allocated to the Rural
District Council (RDC) by government, TellZim News has learnt.
Masvingo
province was allocated about $2 billion in devolution funds for 2021 and Gutu has
been allocated a share of about $200 million.
The
local authority said that a huge chunk of the money will be channeled towards
the completion of clinics and provision of clean water.
Gutu
RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alexander Mutembwa, said their devolution
allocation for 2020 ran out before they could complete some of the projects
which they carried over into 2021.
“This
year, we are focusing mostly on improving our health delivery system and access
to clean water.
“We
want to complete the six clinics which we failed to complete last year. Once
the clinics have been completed and commissioned, Gutu will see an improved
health delivery system,” said Mutembwa.
He
said that they are targeting to put community taps and solar power boreholes in
the Mupandawana area.
“Other
projects we have include two boreholes which we drilled and we want to equip them
with solar and reserve tanks. The boreholes are in Mupandawana and we want to
put communal taps at those boreholes,” said Mutembwa.
Gutu
United Residents and Ratepayers Association (GURRA) secretary-general, Tafunga
Mangombe applauded the council for prioritizing health at a time when the whole
world is battling the Covid-19 pandemic but called on the local authority to be
transparent with the funds.
“It
is very noble for Gutu RDC to invest in health and provision of clean water in
the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our
hope is that the funds will be used in a transparent manner. As residents we
may ask for other projects like resurfacing of roads, educational facilities,
community library and recreational centers but access to health is a fundamental
human right that the local authority has given attention to and thanks to the
devolution funds.
“We
pray that the funds will be channeled towards those projects and will be done
in a transparent way,” said Mangombe.
