Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira, has hailed the Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) for educating communities on the benefits of devolution at a local level.
Speaking during the multi-stakeholder meeting, Chadzamira, accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Dr. Pazvakavambwa, said the government “appreciates the role of churches in complementing and supporting its efforts to promote human life, human dignity and the common good”.
Hon Chadzamira added the government increased the 2024 devolution funds, stressing they embraced a mantra of “Call to Action – No Compromise to Service Delivery” to ensure local authorities put their hands on deck when providing service delivery at grassroots level.
He said “the government of Zimbabwe under His Excellency Cde Dr. ED Mnangagwa increased the devolution funds in the 2024 Budget, allocating ZWL$2.7 trillion up from 195 billion in 2023”.
The administration also launched a blueprint titled “A Call to Action – No Compromise to Service Delivery: First Stage of Interventions to Modernize the Operations of Local Authorities”.
Meanwhile, Director for Economic Affairs and Investment in the office of the president, Mr. Charles Chingwara, weighed in outlining developmental projects done up to now using devolution funds in Masvingo province.
He said “61 medical centers have been constructed in the province since the devolution agenda”, while 55 schools benefited from either a classroom block, teachers’ houses, administration block, and water reticulation system.”
He added devolution funds have also developed Masvingo’s energy system and road networks, stressing that “works at the Great Zimbabwe 5MW mini hydro power plant are at 65 percent physical completion”.
The dualisation of Masvingo town is still in progress, with 10 km for Harare bound side already opened to traffic and 5 km completed on the Beitbridge bound side.”
The proper use of devolution funds in Masvingo was a testimony of the church’s stakeholder meeting on October 26 last year, which gave birth to the participation of youths, women and persons with disabilities in joining the government to embrace NDS1 at a local level.
Despite developments in Masvingo province using devolution funds, irate Chiredzi residents last week bemoaned about poor service delivery in their town, citing the local authority has failed to maintain basic infrastructure like roads, recreational centers, sewage disposal and street lights.
However, the Chair of Chiredzi Town Council, Mr. Charles Charumbira, told the grumpy residents that the local authority had several developments running, insisting it was their mandate to provide proper service delivery.
He said, “For sewer bursts, we have Hari to assist you immediately. We also want to put the night watch to solve this setback anytime. Furthermore, we are constructing bridges at council level, so that public transport ferry you to your desired destinations. Some issues you raised will soon be fixed because we have their budget reviews.”
Meanwhile, ZHOCD’s visit to Masvingo comes after it held a multi-stakeholder meeting in Harare last week with parliamentarians, legal expects, residents and church representatives sharing knowledge about the importance of devolution and decentralization in fostering the country’s economic growth.
