Midlands councils get $88m under devolution

Local authorities in the Midlands Province have been allocated over $88 million by Government under devolution, to accelerate infrastructure development.

The eight local authorities that have so far received devolution funds are Gweru City Council (GCC), which got over $11 million; Redcliff Municipality, $1,4 million; Gokwe South Rural District Council (RDC), $26million; Shurugwi Town Council, $2 million; Mberengwa RDC $26 million; Runde RDC, $16 million; Vungu RDC, $3,3 million; Zibagwe RDC $5,5 million.

Midlands provincial development coordinator Mr Abiot Maronge confirmed the development last Friday.

The local authorities want to use the money to buy water pumps, equipment to use in fixing roads, procure ICT hardware and software, among others.

He said through the disbursement, local authorities had been able to address infrastructure projects in record time.

Mr Maronge commended the central Government for living up to its promises by releasing the funds to the local authorities in the province.

“We are grateful to the Government for the devolution funds which have been allocated to local authorities,” he said. “Roads have been rehabilitated, clinics and schools have been built and various service delivery equipment such as refuse trucks, graders, tippers, among others, have been procured.”

Mr Maronge said more funds were on the way, adding that local authorities should just acquit the allocated money to get more.

“More funds are on their way,” he said. “Meanwhile, a lot of very good work is going on across the province — borehole drilling for example, Vungu RDC and Zibagwe RDC on procurement of road making equipment, Mberengwa, Gokwe South and North RDC classroom blocks, health centres, Vungu, Mberengwa, Kwekwe City Council, Shurugwi Town Council water articulation.”-herald.cl.zw