DEVOLUTION SPROUTS IN GOKWE NORTH

Address: Private Bag 2310, Gokwe, Zimbabwe Phone number: 059 2361 Cell: 0775 702 295

Acting Chief Executive Officer GNRDC TD Munyawu

GOKWE NORTH DEVOLUTION PROJECTS

First and foremost GNRDC would like to thank H.E The President of Zimbabwe E. D Mnangagwa for the policy on devolution and decentralisation which is one of the major anchors of our unity which encompasses inclusive development in Zimbabwe.

Gokwe North RDC has used its devolution funds to empower the ordinary people through the provision of education facilities and accommodation for health workers. This has also improved service delivery as there is now dialogue between the council and the citizenry.

GNRDC also acquired a motorized grader and Back hoe loader that have been used to undertake road rehabilitation. All this is being done so as to see the attainment of Vision 2030 of a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society.

‘BRACE FOR A MODERN GOKWE, THANKS TO DEVOLUTION’

Gokwe North district has been maimed by many as backward and out of touch with latest developments. Born out of Gokwe South district in 1993, the district has been struggling to develop and as a result has been difficult to access due to non-availability of accessible roads and key infrastructure.

Nembudziya Growth Point, its major center, has however been developing slowly thanks to the government who constructed a taste of the art government complex and hospital amongst other key infrastructure. The introduction of the devolution concept is meant to further transform the district as authorities there say they are targeting improving the education sector, roads and water availability.

Since the beginning of disbursing of devolution funds in 2019, Gokwe North Rural District Council has so far received a total of $31 390 244.00 which the council has used for water, education, roads and health projects. Acting Gokwe North RDC CEO, Mr David Munyawu said they have purchased road maintenance equipment which has since gone a long way in improving the state of roads in Gokwe North.

“We have so far purchased a motorized grader, a tipper truck and a backhoe loader that we are expecting to be very useful in repairing our roads. As you are aware some of our roads are impassable but we are doing our best and using the above equipment, we are hopeful that we are going to turn the fortunes of the district around,” he said.

The district has embarked on a massive drive to ensure that the education sector in Gokwe North is consumable.

A number of classroom blocks are at different stages of completion.

“We are constructing a number of classroom blocks across the district using the devolution funds. We have purchased building material which is being used to construct blocks at Gumunyu, Gura, Nyamazengwe schools. We are also constructing a new school Mutora Primary School using devolution funds and the two classroom blocks there are at an advanced stage of completion,” said Mr Munyawu.

Water is a major challenge in the area and if available, it's not consumable by humans, animals or even used for crops.

“We have a major water problem and we are looking at constructing dams which we can then use to treat the water before distributing it to for consumption. We rely mostly on underground water which is very sour and unusable. But we are making significant strides towards the treatment of the water,” he said.

The district has since improved from 33 percent to 35 percent in terms of supply of safe water according to the latest ZIMVAC report.

The district also looks forward to purchasing a drill rig to drill more boreholes for easy access of water.

Chiefs;’ homesteads will also be looked at in terms of road network, power and water supply amongst other things.

Gokwe North Assistant District Development Coordinator, Mr Stewart Gwatirinda said very soon, people will not be looking down upon Gokwe as they currently do.

“We are working hand in hand with our local authority in bringing development in the district. As you know people talk a lot about the district but we are thankful to the government for the devolution funds as they are transforming livelihoods in the district. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the district becomes in touch with the current setting,” he said.

Mr Gwatirinda expressed optimism that in the next two years, the district will be one to be talked about in the country.