By Rex Mphisa
SEVERAL top government officials including cabinet ministers convened in Matabeleland South touring projects underway ahead of the Uhuru Celebrations on April 18.
Zimbabwe will this year hold its national independence celebrations at Maphisa in Kezi district in Matabeleland South after adopting a rotational fashion that saw functions moved away from Harare.
This has in a way spread development as massive construction and development takes place at chosen venue.
In Matabeleland South officials spread the allocations to all district while maintaining a bias towards Maphisa, the host centre.
Incidentally it is where one of the greatest liberation war heros and former Zimbabwean Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo hailed from.
Government is developing the late leader’s home as part of what it describes as “legacy” projects that stand out in all districts.
In an update distributed on several social media platforms by the Minister Of State For Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe, at least 12 projects in various stages of construction were visited.
Among the visitors was the Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government projects and Programmes Joram Gumbo.
“Today marked the final tour of selected Matabeleland South Projects by the Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government projects and programmes (Gumbo),” said the update.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honorable Daniel Garwe and his permanent secretary John Bhasera, and Acting Permanent Secretary in Matabeleland South D. Njowa and the Minister of Transport, Roads and Infrastructural Development, Francis Mhona were among the officials.
Nguluvhe said the officials toured the Gwanda – Khezi – Maphisa road being surfaced, a tour specifically done by Mhona, Khezi Rural Hospital, Khezi Airstrip, Maphisa District Hospital, Main Stadium, Isizinda Cultural Village, Mahetshe Primary and Secondary Schools, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Rondavels, Maphisa Z.R.P Base Administration block and Ablution Facilities Projects, The Joshua Nkomo Vocational Training Centre project and the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Homestead.
Nguluvhe said the above are in various stages of construction.
“With the above-mentioned projects having been extensively reported on, in detail during previous tours made this week, this update will focus on a few projects that have been lagging behind and were seen to have gained traction,” the update from his office said.
The Bulawayo – Khezi Road project to Maphisa was split into 9 lots, with several contractors on site and working fulltime.
Mobilisation of equipment, the update said, ranges between 60% – 100% and 7/10 of lots are currently on setting out, site establishment and detour clearing by various contractors was on.
The ZRP Maphisa administration block was at 100 percent site clearance ad setting was also complete while trenching for foundations was underway.
“The project is expected to be 60 % complete by the 18th of April and works would be carried over beyond the Independence period,” the report quotee Nguluvhe as having said.
The building of Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry 10 Roundavels is expected to be complete by end of March.
Nguluvhe himself said Gumbo’s tour ended at Joshua Nkomo Vocational Training centre project where contractor is seized with building of a road network while a perimeter fence and construction of a 460 meters front boundary wall are complete.
Building of five classrooms is at superstructure level.
Nguluvhe said he appreciated and thanked his counterparts for embarking on a tour of the legacy projects.
He said when President Emmerson Mnangagwa said “No place and no one should be left behind”, the mindset of the people of Matabeleland South changed and the people are now development oriented.
Preparations for Independence, he said, kickstarted with locally mobilised resources and the system of whole of Government and Society approach was instrumental in the approach.
“Matabeleland South will not fail and will be counted amongst the best provinces to have hosted the Independence celebrations,” he is quoted as having said.
He also said 40 Science laboratories are being built across several schools in the province to address the lagging uptake of sciences and STEM subjects in the province.
Garwe pledged that Matabeleland South province will never walk alone as long as his ministry is there to support.