mbulelo smpofu
Patrick Chitumba, patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
THE Government commissioned two fire tenders for Vungu and Zibagwe Rural District Councils procured using devolution funds, marking a significant stride in implementing devolution and decentralisation.
This step underscores the Second Republic’s commitment to achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030. Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, presided over the commissioning ceremonies, first at Vungu RDC and later at Zibagwe RDC.
Minister Ncube underscored the New Dispensation’s emphasis on enhancing service delivery and civil protection to safeguard both lives and property.
“Rural District Councils nationwide, including Chirumhanzu RDC, Runde RDC, and Zibagwe RDC, have, for the first time since independence in 1980, been allocated fire tenders. This demonstrates the Second Republic’s commitment to inclusive development that leaves no one and no place behind,” he said.
He said the Vungu RDC fire tender would enhance the local authority’s ability to respond swiftly to fire outbreaks, road traffic accidents and other emergencies, including those within the jurisdiction of Gweru City Council.
This follows President Mnangagwa’s directive for local authorities to pool resources and equipment under the traditional nhimbe/ilima approach.
“The fire tender I am commissioning today is part of the more than 133 fire tenders acquired by the Second Republic as a mechanisation drive to improve public safety delivery by local authorities. Other councils, such as Gweru City Council, Shurugwi Town Council, Kwekwe City Council, and Zvishavane Town Council, received fire tenders in previous batches,” he said.
Minister Ncube also noted the broader efforts to enhance public safety, including providing 18 medical air search and rescue helicopters from Russia to ensure timely health service delivery.
In addition to the fire tender, Vungu RDC has acquired a mobile clinic van, a tipper truck, and a TLB.
The council is also fixing damaged roofs at Chitukubwe, Herbert Chitepo, Mangwande, Dhimbamhiwa, Shagari, and Khenyani Primary Schools. Other projects include the construction of the Impali Piped Water Scheme and Impali Clinic.
“Accordingly, I urge all local authorities to enhance their disaster mitigation and response mechanisms to maximise the utilisation of lifesaving equipment such as fire tenders, ambulances, and health facilities. We will not allow scenarios where life and property are lost while these fire tenders are neatly parked at the offices,” said Minister Ncube.
At Zibagwe RDC, the minister urged councils to commit to continuous improvements in road maintenance, water and sanitation, health, education, public lighting, recreational facilities, housing, and workspaces for SMEs to propel local economic development.
“Today’s event, therefore, confirms the New Dispensation’s irreversible, tangible, results-oriented and people-centric development trajectory despite the decades-long illegal economic sanctions imposed on our motherland Zimbabwe by the US and its Western allies as advocated by both internal and external detractors,” he said.
daniel chigunwe
