Gutu RDC splurges ZWL$158m

 SAMUEL NJINGA RECENTLY IN GUTU

Gutu Rural District Council (RDC) has spent about ZWL$158m on service delivery, health and infrastructure development projects in the 12 months to December 31, 2022, Business Times can report.

Of this amount, about ZWL$109 723 758.93 was utilised in refuse collection projects, while ZWL$38 716 645.07 was spent on health facilities and other necessary provisions.

About ZWL$9 241 102.11 was spent on rehabilitating roads.

Gutu RDC CEO, Alexander Mutembwa told Business Times that the council used both internal funds and devolution funds.

“In 2022 we embarked on a number of projects using the funds emanating from both the residents as well as devolution funds. At the top of our priorities was the issue of refuse collection as well as health matters. We managed to utilise ZWL$109 723 758.93 in dealing with issues to do with refuse collection,” Mutembwa said.

He added: “We had ZWL$38 716 645.07 going towards ensuring that most of the infrastructure to do with health has been given attention.

“We also spent ZWL$9 241 102.11 in rehabilitating our roads. We still expect to continue with this exercise as we take cognisance of the fact that most of the roads in the area have been destroyed by the heavy cyclones that have been affecting the country for the past two decades.”

Most of the refuse in the area is collected and taken to the dumpsite which is about 30 kilometres away from the rural district Council.

The Gutu RDC chairperson, Nicholas Zambara, said: “We have people with poor financial backgrounds who often fail to pay the required tariffs. We are making frantic efforts to make sure that we have provided awareness on the importance of having citizens paying their dues. People need to understand that roads need to be rehabilitated, roofs, bridges, clinics, schools and water among other issues need to be refurbished. This is only possible if our people can abide by this principle. By that the local authority will be able to plough back to them the mandatory 40% by way of developmental initiatives.”