by Christopher Makaza

Mwenezi Rural District Council (MRDC) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Albert Chivanga has revealed that their district has embarked on various development projects using devolutions funds they received from Government.

Yesterday, Mr Chivanga said the devolution funds they received had been used to construct schools and clinics among other projects.

‘We have constructed about 13 schools in the District using the devolution funds. These schools include primary schools such as  Zvirikure,Mavambo,Chikwalakwala,Muuyu,Mavambo,Maranda,Mangwerume,Manyuch,Mashayamwando Primary Schools as well as Alpha Joy secondary school, over and above other development projects we are implementing, ‘said Chivanga.

Chivanga further said they had also used the devolution funds to renovate a former farm house at Bubi River Ranch and turned it into a clinic. The renovation were to a tune of ZWL$400 000 and the clinic is currently being manned by three nurses.

Bubi River Range is a malaria hotspot in the District.

Construction of schools and the clinic had reduced walking distances of people of Mwenezi who used to walk an average of ten kilometres to access these essential facilities.

The devolution funds are proving to be what was missing for the development of the Zimbabwe’s communities.

Last week, Murehwa Rural District Councillor for Ward 16, Milton Chinake, also said devolution funds had extensively transformed his area.

Chinake revealed that as the Councillor for Ward 16, they had used part of the devolution funds to construct schools, a clinic and rehabilitation of roads.

From a survey done by this publication, it seems devolution-centred projects had started in all the rural and urban councils, which received funding from Government, and projects such as infrastructure development are topping the list from the local authorities.