Liberty Mutamba
THE Devolution Fund has boosted development of Gwanda, as the mining town has embarked on a number of transformative and developmental projects.
These flagship projects include the construction of Phakama Primary School, which is now 90 percent complete, procurement of fire brigade and refuse trucks, among others.
Phakama Primary School, which is an annex of Jahunda Primary School will ease pupil-teacher ratio that is so common in most of Gwanda primary schools.
The school, which is already functional, has also shortened the distance walked by pupils to access education.
The Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, who recently toured the Phakama Primary School, praised the Municipality of Gwanda for channelling funds to good use.
“I am quite impressed that Gwanda has improved in revenue collection and they should be equally be rewarded. Devolution funds are meant to benefit the people not the council. I am impressed that Gwanda has channelled the funds for the betterment of people. Pupils have been crossing dangerous rivers and travelling miles to access an educational facility, now the burden is over.
Eng Muguti challenged the local authority and provincial Government to prioritise road construction using Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.
“The local authority and provincial Government should prioritise road infrastructure for that will link this school with other surrounding suburbs. We are now in the rainy season and bridges and roads should be constructed to ensure that pupils travel safely,” said Eng Muguti.
Phakama Primary School, which is now 90 percent complete is a reflection that the Government’s cocktail measures are a major boost for local authorities.
The Devolution funds have seen Gwanda procuring fire tenders, refuse trucks and resolving water issues. Gwanda Town Mayor, Alderman Thulani Moyo, hailed the Government for initiating Devolution funds.
“Devolution Funds has done a lot for us. We have done a lot with it. We have procured fire brigade, refuse trucks and now we are building Phakama Primary School, which is now 90 percent. I think we will be done shortly then we shift our focus to construct Spitzkop Primary School. We have received significant funds and it has done fruitful things for us.
“The Government’s interventions will surely ease pupil-teacher ratio, and as the Municipality we feel there is need to build more than five primary schools, adding to the existing ones in our town,” said Alderman Moyo.
The school, which has one classroom block, will accommodate ECB learners. Another classroom block is under construction, while and administration block will be added later.
The overarching goal of the NDS1 is to ensure high, accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as socio-economic transformation and development, as the country moves towards becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Devolution funds are helping local authorities fulfil their obligations across the country by developing key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, and bridges, among other facilities.