By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Beitbridge –Beitbridge councils have bemoaned the non disbursement of devolution funds by central, singling it out as one of the stumbling to development in both the urban and rural councils.
The revelation and worry emerged at a meeting held with the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland South Honorable Albert Nguluvhe. The meeting, part of the Minister’s personal outreach to engage with communities across Matabeleland South, brought together stakeholders from both Beitbridge Town Council and the Beitbridge Rural District Council (RDC), where key developmental challenges were laid bare.
Both councils cited the lack of disbursement of devolution funds, which say
for severely stalling critical infrastructure projects.
Beitbridge Town Council Planning Officer Mr. S. Sibindi, who stood in for the Town Clerk, revealed that the local authority had not received any devolution funds since 2023.
“This has greatly affected our operations. For example, Makado Primary School, which was supposed to start operating last term, remains incomplete due to lack of funding,” said Mr. Sibindi.
“We are appealing to the Ministry to assist in unlocking these funds so that projects can move forward.”
Echoing the same concerns, RDC Engineer , representing the Beitbridge RDC Chief Executive Officer Peter Ncube, stated that the unavailability of devolution allocations has negatively impacted various developmental initiatives in rural communities.
“The absence of funding has left many of our road and infrastructure projects in limbo,” Ncube said.
“Furthermore, while the Emergency Road Rehabilitation (ERR) funds are being disbursed in ZWL, most contractors demand USD payments due to inflation concerns. We urgently need our own road construction equipment to reduce dependence on external contractors and cut costs.”
Ncube also called for urgent government intervention in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Chikwalakwala Bridge, which was destroyed by floods and remains unusable.
On his part the Minister urged local authorities and government departments to uphold transparency, efficient service delivery, and inclusive development
and also mphasising the importance of unity, accountability, and inclusion in driving development forward.
“Our chiefs and traditional leaders must always be consulted in every developmental project,” the Minister said.
“These are the people who guided us during the liberation struggle, and they continue to be pillars in our communities. They cannot be left out.”
He also urged all civil servants and government officials to commit themselves to delivering quality services with integrity and to keep the public informed of ongoing projects and expenditures.
“I have heard your challenges, and I will take them with me. Solutions will come,” he concluded, assuring attendees of his commitment to ensuring that development in Beitbridge does not stagnate.
The interactive meeting ended with a renewed call for collaborative effort among local authorities, government agencies, and traditional leadership to ensure Beitbridge’s development trajectory stays on course, despite financial constraints.