By Tongai Mashonga
KWEKWE – The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube toured Chana B Primary School in Mbizo 21 and commissioned the newly constructed Kwekwe City Council Revenue Hall in Mbizo 15.
Both are Kwekwe City Council’s projects which are aimed at promoting education and service delivery respectively.
Chana B; a feeder of Chana Primary School in Mbizo 16 which is still under construction has completed classroom blocks being used by learners.
The development of the school aims to improve the learning environment and reduce the distance learners walk to access education and pressure on Chana Primary.
Minister Ncube said the development of the school fulfils Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for towards modernization of the education system.
He said with rapid urban construction in Mbizo, Kwekwe City Council constructed the school to decongest enrolment at the main Chana Primary School.
“I have been reliably informed that the construction of Chana B Primary School was driven by the need to decongest the original Chana Primary School which flags the need for this school to have its own name as a stand-alone institution,” he said.
Minister Ncube said more than US$165 000 from both devolution and council funds have been invested into the construction of the school and significant progress has so far been made with an administration and two modern classroom blocks each comprising of four classrooms.
Essential ablution facilities have been completed and council plans to do the final touches on the existing blocks in preparation for the official opening of the school.
The school currently does not have enough classrooms for the 824 learners from ECD A to grade seven. Grade 7s currently write their Zimsec examinations at Chana Primary School, as Chana B does not have a Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Centre Number.
Meanwhile, Minister Ncube officially commissioned the newly constructed revenue hall in Mbizo 15.
The state-of-the-art facility will enhance council revenue collection and improve service delivery to residents.
The Minister applauded Kwekwe for mordernising its operations.
“I applaud Kwekwe City Council for embracing the national vision of 2030 Planning and Control where we are pursuing the smart city concept,” he said.
“I am generally satisfied with Kwekwe City’s level of service delivery measured in terms of speed of services.
“You have now improved on the attendance to sewer, leakages, burst water pipes, efficiency on refuse collection, approval of business plans and issuance of business permits.”
Minister Ncube said local authorities in Midlands Province should scale up their efforts towards provision of vending stalls, public toilets, clinics and hospitals, areas which are critical to people’s general well-being.
The Minister had earlier toured a clinic being constructed by Kwekwe City Council in Msasa Park.
He urged residents, the private sector and other stakeholders to continue complying with the payment of council rates to ensure improved service delivery.
Kwekwe Mayor Alex Zinhanga said the revenue hall construction was made possible by the unity of purpose prevailing at the civic centre.
“It was through the unity of purpose at Kwekwe City Council which led to the construction of the Mbizo 15 Revenue Hall.
Mbizo now has three revenue hall collection points at Mbizo 1, Mbizo 12, and Mbizo 15 cutting the long walking distance and reduce long waiting time for residents in Mbizo 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22.
