Gokwe South plans compensating displaced communities . . . embarks on road rehabilitation

GOKWE South Rural District Council planning committee on development has adopted the guidelines and recommendations for compensation of local communities displaced by growth point expansion and rural development projects.

The guidelines and recommendations which were produced by a Midlands Working Group, which had representatives from the Government and the eight rural district councils in the province, was supported by Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT).

Gokwe South RDC chairperson for the planning committee Councillor Tawanda Rukanda said the document will now be taken to a full council for adoption.

He said the councillors were happy that if adopted, the guidelines and recommendations will address issues to do with compensation and relocation of communities when the RDC expands. GOKWE South Rural District Council (RDC) has embarked on road rehabilitation after receiving an allocation of $100 000 from Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA).

The local authority will use the money to carry out routine maintenance of roads and regrading of major roads and construction of foot bridges and drainage systems.

In an interview, Gokwe South RDC chief executive Mr Silas Velani confirmed the development, saying work had already commenced on the Goredema-Krima Road.

“We received an allocation of about

“So, the planning committee has adopted the guidelines and recommendations for compensation of local communities displaced by growth point expansion and rural development projects,” said Clr Rukanda.

“The document will now be tabled and discussed during the next full council meeting before being adopted as a resolution for use by council.”

Gokwe South RDC chief executive Mr Sailas Velani said the guidelines will go a long way in addressing land challenges that they are facing as a council.

He said there were traditional leaders in his area who were allegedly selling State land a few metres from the 10km council boundary in anticipation of its $100 000 from ZINARA and we are already in possession of the fund.

“We are always grateful for the financial support from ZINARA as it goes a long way in repairing roads which would be in a deplorable state.

“We have already started work at the Goredema-Krima Road where we are targeting to re-grade about 45 kilometres,” said Mr Velani.

He said council was targeting a total of 200 kilometres across the district.

“We intend to rehabilitate the road further up to Ganyungu, if funds permit. But all in all we are targeting to re-grade a total of about 200 kilometres. We also will be repairing footbridges and drainage system as

growth.

“An appetite for money is now rampant among some unscrupulous people who are selling State land around the RDC,” said Mr Velani.

“Soon, council will be approaching such illegal settlements and I believe these guidelines and recommendations are in line with our challenges in terms of addressing (issues to do with) relocating communities and their subsequent compensation.”

Assistant district administrator for Gokwe South Mr Stewart Gwatiringa said it was inevitable that growth points where going to expand in line with Government agenda of turning the country into a middle-income economy by 2030. we fast approach the rainy season,” he said.

Mr Velani said although the fund was received a bit late as we head towards the rainy season, the rural authority was confident of finishing the rehabilitation work before the rains begin falling earnestly.

“We did not get the fund earlier as expected, however, that does not stop the work from continuing and we are confident of completing the job before rains start,” he said.

Gokwe is characterised by loose soils that are easily washed away, damaging roads in the process.

Most roads are impassable in the area, especially during the rain season.

“Development is coming and growth points are going to expand,” he said.

“There is, however, need for a uniform manner or policy or guidelines in dealing with such expansion which will displace communities and, therefore, the importance of these guidelines and regulations from the Midlands Working Group supported by Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation.”

The guidelines and recommendations are coming at a time when some growth points in the province are growing, while there has not be meaningful development in others since Government designated certain sites as either controlled business centres or growth points earmarked for urbanisation.