Construction of Rushinga’s Machiti Road complete

RUSHINGA Rural District Council has completed the construction of the $250 000 Machiti Road, including the construction of a classroom block worth $14 000 as part of its 100-day plan.

In an interview last week, Rushinga Rural District Council chairperson Councillor Spencer Chivarange said despite resource challenges, they were geared to improve the road network in the border district.

Rushinga district borders with Mozambique and has had a poor road network since independence in 1980.

“There was no road in the area since 1980 and Machiti Road is the first one,” said Cllr Chivarange. “We used $250 000 in its construction. We have also completed the construction of a classroom block at Machiti Primary School.

“The construction of Gandanyama Clinic is also complete and this will go a long way in fighting malaria in the area.”

Cllr Chivarange said the local authority planned to buy earthmoving equipment worth $155 000 during the first quarter of this year.

“We received the money from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) and we are waiting for them to give us the nod to purchase the road equipment,” he said.

“Our area has a poor road network and if we manage to acquire this equipment, this will go a long way in improving communication in the area. Most of the roads were also damaged by the recent rains and they need attention.

“We are also pushing for the completion of the Chimhanda-Rushinga Road. The project was abandoned by the Department of Roads in 2003. When work was stopped, they had covered just two kilometres, leaving five kilometres which need completion.”

The completion of the roads will make life easier for people living around Chimhanda Growth Point and Rushinga Service Centre.

Transporters operating between the two centres are charging exorbitant fares because of the poor state of the road.

The council-initiated Rusambo Solar Power Project was also completed and is now serving the local community, clinic, primary and secondary school.

Cllr Chivarange said they had also set up a cattle auction centre in the area that was attracting buyers from as far as Harare.

“We realised that middlemen were ripping off farmers and decided to set up an auction market, which is held every Tuesday,” he said. “This is benefiting the farmers as they are being paid the right prices.

“On this note, we are encouraging farmers in Rushinga to take up the Command Livestock Programme seriously as they stand to reap big rewards. The area is ideal for cattle ranching.”

Cllr Chivarange said 65 percent of the 74 070 population of Rushinga district was in need of food aid.

“Although we are now receiving rains, most of the crops were affected by the January dry spell,” he said.

“No assistance has been received so far, save for those who were receiving allocations through the Department of Social Welfare.”

Cllr Chivarange called for the sinking of more boreholes in the area.

“We have been grappling with water challenges for a long time and this area should seriously be looked into,” he said.

“Four weir dams were constructed, while four boreholes were sunk through the Community Asset Creation Programme being spearheaded by the Community Technology Development Organisation.

“The programme is being jointly funded by the Japanese and Zimbabwean governments. Through this programme, one solar-powered borehole was sunk and is helping in providing water to the local community and a garden.

“A dip tank was also constructed. We need more water harvesting projects to improve lives in Rushinga.”