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Patrick Chitumba

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VUNGU RURAL District Council has achieved another milestone following the installation of a $28 million solar plant using devolution funds.

Riding on the new solar plant is the piped water scheme at Tovho Village in Lower Gweru.

It draws water from a solar-powered borehole and extends over about eight kilometres.

Six communal water points have been installed along the pipeline and villagers who used to travel about eight kilometres to fetch water are now enjoying the fruits of the Second Republic’s devolution programme as they now fetch water close to their homesteads.

Vungu RDC has recorded huge successes in service delivery to the community thanks to the $213 million devolution funds availed to it by the Government since 2019.

Devolution is enshrined in the 2013 Constitution, but its implementation began in earnest with the coming in of the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa when growing sums were budgeted to top up the funds local authorities raise themselves to fund essential infrastructure in their areas.

The Second Republic is scaling up the devolution thrust consistent with President Mnangagwa’s policy of leaving no one and no place behind.

Devolution funds are assisting local authorities to fulfil their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads, and bridges among other facilities.

Vungu RDC chief executive officer Mr Alex Magura commended the Government for the devolution funds which he said were being used to establish people-centred projects.

“As  Vungu RDC, we have achieved another milestone following the installation of a $28 million solar plant using devolution funds. Six communal water points have been installed along the pipeline and villagers who used to travel about eight kilometres to fetch water are now enjoying the fruits of the Second Republic’s devolution programme as they now fetch water close to their homesteads. 

“The piped water scheme is now benefiting about 150 households, a secondary school and a clinic,” he said.

Apart from rural households being connected to the water system, the project, Mr Magura said, has benefited the nearby Chisadza Secondary School located about six kilometres from the water system as well as Impala Clinic, which is nearing completion.

Vungu RDC Engineer Kudzai Njodzi said this is yet another huge milestone for the Second Republic after the devolution programme achieved the desired results where the local community now has access to clean water following the completion of a solar water project.

“This is one of the major projects that we have managed to bring to this community. The project is to the tune of $28 million. We have managed to lay pipes to a distance over eight kilometres as we are also targeting the nearby clinic,” he said.

“Communities have their own tapped water with water being harvested from this source. The centre can generate a lot of power which ensures smooth flow of water.”

Chief Chisadza under whose jurisdiction Tovho Village falls said villagers used to walk several kilometres to fetch water from unprotected sources.

“This is a welcome development for the area and we commend the Government for releasing devolution funds that are being used to implement these projects. Now we have villagers accessing clean water and the availability of clean water at their doorsteps is a dream come true,” he said.

Chief Chisadza said the Government has really remembered the plight of villagers.

“Water has always been a huge challenge here. We used to have stomach problems as we would fetch drinking water in dams and wells. We are happy that, it’s now a thing of the past,” he said.

Mrs Charity Ncube, a villager said they are happy about the installation of the solar plant and the water pipes.

“We are now at the same level as our counterparts in urban areas. Water is life and we all want it. Today we are indeed celebrating another milestone by the Government. We are doing our projects very well with access to such clean water,” she said.

Another villager said, “We are happy that even our livestock have been catered for after the construction of some drinking pens at the water system. It has always been our hope that we get safe water in our community and I am happy it’s happening during our time.”

The water project is one of the many life-changing developments that are meant to improve livelihoods in rural communities in fulfilment of the Second Republic’s thrust of leaving no one and no place behind.

Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Midlands Province Mr Abiot Maronge underscored the importance of devolution funds to local authorities in line with Vision 2030.

He said local authorities want to use the devolution funds to buy water pumps, and equipment to use in fixing roads and procure ICT hardware and software, among other projects.

Through the disbursement of the money, Mr Maronge said local authorities have been able to address infrastructure projects in record time.