By George Vhudzi
Zvishavane residents have challenged their council to explain how the local authority has used its devolution funds.
The residents’ concerns follow reports that other cities had revealed how they had used the money.
“We have been hearing news of other cities in the Midlands having achieved this and that with the money they got from the devolution funds program, there is Gweru, Kwekwe just to mention a few but nothing from our own city council,” said Nicholas Muzarabani.
After being awarded $58 million in devolution funds from the central government, Midlands province city councils shared the money and directed it towards water, sanitation, constructing and upgrading health facilities with Zvishavane residents calling upon their council to reveal how they distributed the funds.
“Council is supposed to be engaging with us the residents on projects they are intending to venture into so that we are assured of our funds being used wisely but since they received a lump sum of the $58 million, no council management have come back to us and updated us on what they have used it or intend to use it on,” said another concerned Zvishavane resident.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima once said devolution funds are bringing parallel changes across the province precisely infrastructure development being on the top list.
