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Cde Obedingwa Mguni

Richard Muponde, Business Correspondent
HOME Affairs and Culture Deputy Minister Mr Obedingwa Mguni yesterday called on banks and other service providers to decentralise operations to Ingwizi Growth Point in Mangwe district to bring services closer to the people.

Villagers in Mangwe district especially from Makorokoro travel more than 170 kilometres to Plumtree town to access banks and other services which is expensive and time consuming.

The Deputy Minister who is also the legislator for Mangwe in an interview yesterday said opening of sub-offices by banks and other service providers at Ingwizi Growth Point would enhance the ease of doing business and increase revenue collections.

“It’s the way to go. In this endeavour we once brought the Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security (Supa Mandiwanzira) with a view of opening the old Post Office there (Ingwizi)  so that banks like POSB may set base there.

“The call is also extended to other banks to put agents at Ingwizi or put Automated Machines (ATMs) there.

“There have been talks with owners of buildings to provide space for that,” he said.

Deputy Minister Mguni said people in his constituency were travelling long distances to Plumtree town to access services. “Imagine people as far as Makorokoro travel about 170 km to Plumtree town to get money from the banks.

“They use $14 to and from, which is a lot of money that villagers are spending on transport.

In some instances after travelling such a long distance they find banks with no money,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said utilities like Zesa and the local authority should put Point of Sale Machines (POS) at the growth point.

“That will also enhance ease of doing business and increase their revenue collections.

“We will continue to push for that. We are happy with the preliminary assessments made by Minister Mandiwanzira. We want base stations and Internet at Ingwizi Growth Point,” said the Deputy Minister.

The call comes at a time when Mangwe Rural District Council is contemplating permanently moving its headquarters from Plumtree Town to the growth point to enhance revenue collection.

@richardmuponde