Brighton Chiseva
Masvingo – The 2017 annual budget consultations meeting held by the Provincial Development Committee at Civic Centre last week revealed that more than 100 million United States dollars is needed for ongoing and new infrastructural development projects in the province.
A total number of 189 projects have been identified; 115 of them already started while 74 are still in the offing. These require a total estimated amount of US$105 570 301 to fully implement.
Major projects in the proposed budget are the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi dam which is supposed to be finished by next year for an estimated cost of US$50 million and the establishment of Chenhuwe police station.
The ZimAsset blueprint, which is the guiding document for government’s development priorities, is divided into clusters that were identified as critical for the country’s immediate developmental needs.
The Social Services and Poverty Eradication cluster’s total of 80 projects require an estimated US$4 350 247 while the Food Security and Nutrition cluster needs around US$7 658 620 for 106 projects.
The Value Addition and Beneficiation cluster requires a projected US$10 444 851 for its 126 projects.
Provincial Administrator (PA) Felix Chikovo urged the Provincial Development Committee (PDC) to make sure that their budgets estimates are reasonable to make sure there are no inconveniences caused by wrong estimates.
“These are just estimates so you don’t have to be afraid of estimating; make sure your estimates are not less than what is really needed on the ground, you have to compete for a larger cake,” said Chikovo.
The districts were asked to go and make corrections on areas highlighted to them by Committee chairpersons, fill in the gaps on their reports as well as use the ZimAsset document as guideline with reports expected to be submitted to the PA in the third week.
The provincial report will be given to the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Shuvai Mahofa for approval before being sent to Harare by the end of September.news
