Mat'Land South not left behind- GOVT

RURAL DIGITAL FOCUS

GOVERNMENT has lined up several developmental projects for the Matabeleland South region which are set to be rolled out from 2022 as the Second Republic is leaving no one behind.

Some of the projects include Zhovhe Dam and Thuli-Manyange Dam, which according to the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Chiduwa has been classified as an emotional project.

Speaking at the National Assembly on 4 November, Chiduwa said 'quite a number of programmes have been lined up.

He was responding to legislators who felt that Matabeleland was overlooked in funding for various projects.

"As we get the national resources, we allocate them like that but there is a point that was mentioned that why does it appear like we left out Matabeleland South? I mentioned that we have quite a number of programmes that are coming in terms of what we are currently doing in Matabeleland South.

"There is Zhovhe Dam, we already have plans and we start rolling out that plan from next year - the pipeline from Zhovhe Dam up to Beitbridge. Along the pipeline, we are saying; as we take the pipeline and take water from Zhovhe Dam up to Beitbridge, there should be agricultural activities and there is that plan to ensure that we are going to create a green belt," explained Chiduwa.

Several months ago, while touring the dam project, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the US$35 million development project includes a 2500-hectare irrigation project and a 63 km water canal from Zhovhe dam to Beitbridge.

The project will also supply commercial farmers with irrigation water on its course to the border town.

At present, communal farmers are using Zhovhe dam to irrigate the Toppick Farm Fisheries.

On Thuli-Manyange dam, Chiduwa is quoted saying by the Parliamentary Hansard: “We have also made a presentation here regarding the construction of Thuli-Manyange Dam.

"Thuli-Manyange Dam, we classified it as an emotional project, a project that is supposed to get priority funding. It is unfortunate that in terms of the development aspirations that we were assigned by His Excellency, we were assigned by His Excellency and he said, "By December 2021, I would want to see Gwayi-Shangani Dam completed".

On completion, the dam is expected to service Vela, Guyu Business Centre, Ntalale Business Centre, Chelesa Business Centre, Sizhubane Barracks, Manama Mission and Business Centre, Sebasa and Mankonkoni irrigation schemes.

Last year, Matabeleland South identified the Thuli – Manyange Dam as one of the high impact projects that should be included in the National Development Strategy 2021-2025.

Public Works Dept 'blocks' Dongamuzi Rural Health Centre construction

RURAL DIGITAL FOCUS


A private contractor engaged and tasked to construct a rural health centre in Dongamuzi, Lupane was stopped by Public Works Department which pledged to build the facility.

The unnamed private contractor had been engaged in October this year but the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Matabeleland North Province office was later advised against going with the contractor, Parliament heard.

During a written submission to question with notice session on 10 November, legislators heard that an annual budget allocation was made to construct Dongamuzi Rural Health Centre in Lupane West Constituency.

Legislator Martin Khumalo sought to find out when construction would commence as funding was availed 'over the year and yet no work has been done to date'.

In response, Deputy Health Minister, John Mangwiro revealed that Public Works Department is stalling the construction.

''A private contractor had been secured to start work around mid-October 2021 but the Public Works Department advised the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Matabeleland North Province, not to engage a private contractor as the department is going to do the construction '' Mangwiro disclosed.

''Up to now, the Public Works Department has not commenced construction of the said clinic. The Ministry of Health and Child Care, Matabeleland North Provincial Director, will submit a full report on the matter''.

In 2018, Matabeleland North provincial medical director Nyasha Masuka was quoted saying the Health ministry was undertaking the Dongamuzi Rural District Health centre with a budget allocation pegged at $100 000.

Masuka said the project was "scheduled to commence as soon as the material is all delivered on-site and the community is eagerly waiting to assist in the construction of the clinics as evidenced by the fact that they have been mobilising local available materials like the pit sand and homemade quarry stones. Cement is being supplied by Unicem and the arrangement to collect it in batches has been made with the supplier''.

Government hospitals and clinics are currently understaffed, poorly equipped, underfunded and face a critical drug shortage, compromising service delivery but the Second Republic is determined to remedy the situation.