5 schools, 5 clinics under construction in Bulilima
DEVOLUTION funds have proved to be a game changer in terms of infrastructural development in Bulilima District in Matabeleland South where five schools and five clinics are under construction.
Bulilima Rural District Council is utilising devolution funds for developmental projects.
Schools under construction include Mafa Primary School, Huwana Secondary School, Goba Junior, Ndiweni Junior and Hungwa Primary School. The clinics are Somnene, Luvuluma, Mambo, Makumbi and Gwambe
The construction of a mother’s shelter at Dombodema Clinic in the district is also underway.
Bulilima RDC has also used $74 million for the Figtree sewer and water reticulation system. The funds were channelled towards the construction of six stabilisation ponds, two anaerobic ponds, two facultative ponds and two maturation ponds.
Bulilima RDC acting chief executive officer, Mr Biliati Mlauzi said since 2019 council received $460 million for devolution funds out of an allocation of $1,9 billion.
This year the local authority received $354 million while last year it got $80 million. In 2021, Bulilima RDC received $55 million from the Government.
With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), Bulilima RDC has dedicated a larger chunk of devolution funds towards funding the health and education sectors.
Devolution funds coupled with the involvement of other stakeholders such as local communities and diasporans have brought significant development to the district.
The Second Republic under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa saw it prudent to operationalise the devolution concept as enshrined in the Constitution, resulting in five percent of fiscal disbursement from the Treasury going to local authorities.
The funds have transformed several districts in the Matabeleland region in particular and the country in general, as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
“We have commissioned several projects that were implemented through a collaboration between the council, local community, those in the diaspora, Campfire dividends, Constituency Development Fund, and the Rotary Club,” said Mr Mlauzi
“This year we commissioned Malalume
Clinic and Mbimba Clinic. We allocated $16 million to Malalume Clinic and $13 million to Mbimba Clinic. In November last year, we commissioned Gambu Clinic where we allocated $4 million devolution funds.”
Mr Mlauzi said they also commissioned Zompata Primary School in July this year which was allocated $59 million devolution funds.
“We also commissioned Nyele Community Hall which was allocated $15 million through devolution funds. The devolution funds were also used to repair damaged infrastructure such as schools and clinics,” he said.
Mr Mlauzi said the devolution fund has come in handy to ensure timeously completion of projects that were initiated by community members.
He said in its development trajectory the local authority is seized with addressing challenges in the education and health sectors, which have been identified as development gaps in the district
“For instance, secondary education is a serious challenge in both rural and resettlement areas. In resettlement areas, the challenge is serious as children walk up to 20km to the nearest secondary school and these are the gaps that we want to fill,” said Mr Mlauzi.
“The devolution fund and community resources have helped to address service delivery in critical areas of health and education service delivery. We have also managed to initiate some projects using devolution funds.”
Devolution funds are assisting local authorities in fulfilling their obligation to ensure improved access to social amenities across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, and bridges among others.
Social amenities and infrastructure development are some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The devolution programme is one of the key pillars under the NDS1 which is the country’s first five-year medium-term plan aimed at realising the country’s Vision 2030 while simultaneously addressing the global aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2063.
The overarching goal of the NSD1 is to ensure high, accelerated, inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as socio-economic transformation and development as the country moves towards an upper middle-income society by 2030.