The Sunday News
Farai Mukuwane, Masvingo Correspondent
THE Government has approved budgets for all nine local authorities in Masvingo Province totaling over Z$30 billion and US$30 million with a particular bias on maintenance of roads as well as construction of basic infrastructure.
Officials in charge of the administrative councils in the province confirmed the approvals to Sunday News in separate interviews. The province has seven rural district councils, a town council and a city council. Chief among projects being carried out by Rural District Councils (RDCs) in the province is the maintenance and construction of roads, construction of clinics and classroom blocks for easy access of services by the communities.
Masvingo City Council’s budget is the largest in the province at US$23,6 million and two major projects to be undertaken are the Mucheke Trunk Sewer and water augmentation Phase 2. The water project entails increasing the volume of water pumped to the city from 30 megalitres to 60 megalitres a day. The city requires 60 megalitres a day.
Chivi RDC budget is US$6 537 427. The council’s CEO Mr Tariro Matavire told journalists that the budget would primarily focus on finishining outstanding projects from 2022. Some of the projects include repairing Cyclone Idai damaged infrastructure at schools and clinics.
Zaka RDC 2023 budget is Z$4,4 billion and the council intends to among other things purchase a tipper and complete several schools and clinics which were not completed using the 2022 budget.
Mwenezi RDC has a Z$5 billion budget and the bulk of it will be channeled towards road rehabilitation, social services and water, sanitation and health.
Gutu RDC has a Z$5,5 billion which increased from Z$3 billion. Some of the council’s major projects include completion of three clinic namely Masirivindi, Mushayavanhu and Mandawi and construction of classroom blocks at several schools.
Bikita RDC’s budget is Z$4,2 billion and key projects includes expansion of Nyika Growth Point and construction of a new secondary school.
Chiredzi Town Council’s budget stands at Z$7,1 billion with the major projects being acquiring a grader and tipper truck and upgrading of water systems and sewerage.
Chiredzi RDC has a Z$7 billion budget. CEO Mr Ailes Baloyi said they were focusing on developing several business centres and improving the road network.
