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Nqobile Tshili recently in Binga

THE Second Republic is implementing high-impact projects in Binga District that include the recent opening of a new border post, enrolment of students at a polytechnic that will open in two weeks, rolling out roadworks and construction of offices to provide key services.

President Mnangagwa visited Binga in April and directed that several measures be taken to develop the previously marginalised district.

In a departure from the past when development projects were largely seen to be political  rhetoric, real transformation is taking place in Binga.

Barely four months after President Mnangagwa visited the district, Government departments are making milestones in developing Binga.

Solar equipped boreholes are being drilled at chiefs’ homesteads as well as in the community to improve access to water.

Roads are being rehabilitated while access to public transport is improving as Government responds to the requests  the  Binga community made to President Mnangagwa.

The construction of the civil registry  department which has stalled for 10 years recently resumed and is expected to be completed before year-end. Milestones are also being achieved in the education sector as Binga Polytechnic College is set to open its doors to its first students in two weeks with Government waiving the five Ordinary Level enrolment requirement for locals.

This is part of the affirmative action to develop the district. Binga district development officer Mr Land Kabome Siansole told a Chronicle news crew that there is motivation among Government employees in Binga as they see the Second Republic bringing to fruition development projects

“We are getting motivated that what we requested from the President is actually being implemented. People are realising that once the President makes a proclamation everything is being fulfilled,” said Mr Siansole as he outlined some of the projects that have been implemented since President Mnangagwa’s last visit to the district.

He said Binga Polytechnic College will have its inaugural opening next month on the opening day of other polytechnics.

“To that effect, we have actually given them space to start teaching this year. I have actually been briefed that Government, through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology has released some money for the renovations of that place with renovations expected to start on Monday (yesterday)” he said.

“It’s very critical to place the waiver because Binga District was lagging behind. Most of our youths do not have five O-levels including Mathematics and English. So, it’s a plus for us as a community to have our youths even without five O-levels to enrol here. So what is important is for them to get the skill and be in a position to employ others.” 

He said a Binga Nursing School is set to be built, which is one of the requests made to the President.

Mr Siansole said those who will be enrolled at the school will be required to have at least 5 O-levels.

“On the school of nursing they were reporting that last Monday they took all the plans; the council has allocated land for the construction of the nursing school. A tender has been issued for the construction of a mother’s shelter and the person who got the tender is expected on Monday (yesterday). Tendering for the mortuary was done and the person who was allocated tender is coming on the ground. Remember we had stayed for more than five years without a functionary mortuary. This will be a relief for the community as we were forced to rush burials,” he said.

Mr Siansole said they have also made inroads towards developing Binga Town which will be a separate entity from Binga Rural District Council.

Binga RDC has already seconded some of its employees to start working towards developing the Binga Local Board, which will run the affairs of Binga Town.

“As Binga community we realised that there is a need to have a local board and we actually made a request to His Excellency, the President. Why did we form a local board? It is in line with devolution. There is devolution allocation that is given to districts and we felt that it is good to have a local board and the rural district council,” said Mr Siansole.

He said this means that the district will have devolution funds allocated to both Binga RDC and the town, hence fast tracking development in the area. 

“To that effect, we are now at an advanced stage because we have made the road map and we are following those stages,” he said.

Mr Siansole said the district has perennial water problems that were affecting Binga centre and villages but President Mnangagwa brought a solution to the problem. 

“There is a challenge in terms of the water system because the water supply is dependent on electricity supplies. If power is cut, we will have water cuts because we have a small reservoir. The Second Republic has initiated a programme of expanding these reservoirs. So far, we have allocated Zinwa two stands so that it can build a bigger reservoir. Also, the Presidential rig is drilling boreholes in the community as well as the District Development Fund in other areas,” said Mr Siansole.

He said the community also requested that Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) avails four buses to service the local routes and the buses are already on the ground. 

Mr Siansole said while they wait for a fully-fledged border post in Binga, it was encouraging that a makeshift post has been established with immigration officers deployed on site. 

“About the border post we are very serious with that as the Second Republic gave us that authority to have the border post. Why a border post? Because we have relatives in Zambia and there is a need to visit some of our relatives who are on the other side. There are rituals that are performed in Zambia, we go there and they also come here. So, it gives a very good link and also economically the border post will assist us minimise the issue of smuggling,” said Mr Siansole.

He said Government was finalising the construction of 27 houses for Binga floods victims.

He said works are being done on the Siabuwa-Karoi Road which will cut by half the distance travelled from Harare to Binga.

-@nqotshili