Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
TREASURY has allocated an additional ZiG120 million to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to kick-start the construction of four technical colleges in some of the country’s remote regions, including Binga and Plumtree.
This funding is part of the Government’s initiative to decentralise the education system across the nation.
The four colleges are located in Binga, Plumtree, Chivi and Magunje.
The allocation, which is in addition to the ZiG10 billion that was allocated to the Ministry in the proposed 2025 National Budget, has been hailed as a crucial step forward in the decentralisation agenda and human capital development strategies.
This funding is expected to improve the development status of the provinces the colleges will be located, in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.
In announcing the allocation last Tuesday, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube clarified that the initial allocation had not accounted for the necessary resources for the construction of these facilities.
“We are going to increase this budget because there are four colleges that the Ministry of Higher Education will be developing but they have not been included in the budget. I propose that we add another ZiG120 million to this budget so that those resources can go towards starting the work on those four colleges,” said Prof Ncube.
Commenting on the adjustment, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Simelisizwe Sibanda, revealed that during the previous financial year, they did not receive sufficient support to begin construction at these colleges.
He noted that they actively lobbied with the Treasury to secure adequate infrastructure funding for the institutions.
“Treasury reviewed upwards our allocation as a Ministry and of note is the construction works that should be done at Binga and Plumtree colleges. Indeed, this financial year, 2024, we did not receive substantial support from the Treasury for the construction of those two institutions, but we really appreciate the allocation that has been done for this coming 2025 financial year.
“This will go a long way in terms of the infrastructural development for these particular colleges. Fine, there is training that has been started but the infrastructure is not in the right state in terms of supporting proper training of students, in line with the production of students with the right minds and attitudes,” said Dep Min Sibanda.
He said in the spirit of not leaving any place behind as annunciated by President Mnangagwa, the construction works will fulfill the dream as there will be enough infrastructure for training in those particular areas.
“It will also add value in terms of the development status of Binga (Matabeleland North) and Plumtree (Matabeleland South) in those communities who will appreciate the government effort. This is in line also with our decentralisation agenda where we are trying to move industrial and polytechnic training from Bulawayo, which the region has relied much on.
“The two particular institutions will also increase uptake of students from say Plumtree and add value in terms of human capital, which will be found in that place. Our young people from those particular areas had challenges in terms of relocation to Bulawayo but now they can access training in areas that are just nearer to them,” said Dep Min Sibanda.
