TellZim Reporter
Masvingo Rural District Council (MRDC) Ward 2 villagers have urged council to constantly come back to them with feedback on projects being implemented by council in order for them to be kept informed on development in their area.
Speaking at an engagement meeting organized by TellZim News in partnership with the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) at Zimuto Siding Community Hall on March 20, 2023, participants told MRDC Chairperson Albert Mangena that it was important that council comes back to give feedback to community on what they were doing for transparency’s sake.
One of the participants, Stephen Chipadza said there are council houses that are now lying idle in various places within the wards, which council could use for its other businesses if they can take account of them on time.
“On infrastructure issues, we have several houses here at this shopping centre, in Gurajena, in Maraire and other places. We think if council take these houses into account, the community can benefit from them,” Chipadza said.
Another participant, Ozias Dunira said the issue of community boreholes needed council’s attention as there were other villages that had no boreholes and had to go far to access clean water.
“At Chikato School, we are appealing for a solar powered borehole there. Also in Gumbiti Village, we have to rely on water from uncovered wells and if we want clean water we would have to go to Chikato or come to Zimuto Siding Shopping Centre to get water,” Dunira said.
The issue of unfinished projects was also topical as villagers suggested that Cllr Mangena gives feedback on which projects had been finished and which ones were yet to be completed.
Cllr Mangena then gave a brief on the completion of several clinics as well as maternity waiting homes that had been completed, some of them using devolution funds.
“Mwarizvo Clinic in Ward 23 is now complete, with only a few touch ups left on the nurses’ house. At Musingarabwi in Ward 20, there is a clinic that has been completed. There is Chatikobo waiting mothers’ shelter that has been completed, among others.
“On the project profile issue that has been discussed here, I want to assure you that council wants it to be understood and appreciated from the grassroots here because every year, MRDC road works and planning director Nyatsanza does not pass February without requesting project profiles from respective councilors,” Cllr Mangena said.
Also in attendance was Chief Zimuto, who expressed gratitude towards council for revamping business centres in his area, among other developmental projects the local authority had spearheaded.
