The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
UNTIL recently, Lalapanzi, a farming and mining settlement located in Chirumanzu District in the Midlands Province, was a ghost settlement where artisanal miners had set up camp and were scavenging for chrome.
The area used to be a bastion of chrome mining in the country and hosted large mining companies such as the London and Rhodesian Mining Company (Lonrho) and the Zimbabwe Alloy and Steel Company (Zimasco).
There were also small mining companies in the area, which is located along the Great Dyke — a mineral-rich geological formation that cuts across the northern and southern parts of the country.
As mining companies closed shop, there was an unfortunate change in fortune.
But, in recent months, Lalapanzi has been slowly coming back to life, with four new mining companies setting camp this year alone.
Much of the strides that have been made so far can be attributed to devolution and able stewardship by the Chirumanzu Rural District Council.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima spoke glowingly about the work that is being undertaken by the local authority.
“In terms of supervising the contractors that are conducting the devolution projects and also in terms of the high standards of work, the Chirumanzu RDC is clearly a cut above the rest. The council puts a lot of effort and attention to detail in its projects,” said Minister Mavima as he commissioned Hwata Clinic, which was constructed using devolution funds.
Apart from constructing clinics, repairing roads and restoring classroom blocks whose roofs were blown away by heavy winds, they have drilled boreholes and embarked on a housing project using the $26 million devolution kitty.
A classroom block was constructed at Faeden Primary School, New England Secondary School, while another block was done at Musena Clinic.
Construction work at Chimbindi and Chapwanya clinics is nearing completion.
The Mudzengi farmhouse was renovated into a clinic using funds from both council coffers and devolution.
The council funded the construction of a classroom block at Chishuku, Faeden and Herbert Mahlaba primary schools.
Chirumanzu residents are appreciative of the transformative projects that are taking root.
“The projects are being finished in the fastest possible time. We had a clinic that was completed within three weeks. We now have easy access to clean water, health services and education,” said Mrs Mary Zhou, a resident of the Chirumanzu RDC Ward 6.
Mr Percy Tawadya, a businessman who runs a chain of grocery shops around Chirumanzu, is upbeat.
“Devolution quickens development. Most roads in our district have been repaired and it is easy for me to move from one place to another as I supervise my workers,” he said.
The Chirumanzu RDC model serves as a perfect example that councils can work in partnership with communities and corporates.
The community chipped in by building a classroom block at Mudzengi Primary School. After noticing the community’s zeal in developing its area, businesses such as Delta Corporation and LID Agencies chipped in and donated building materials.
The Japanese embassy also constructed a classroom block at Mudzengi Primary School.
Communities are now increasingly being involved in decision-making and determining development priorities.
“Unlike in other councils where we are getting stories of alleged unfair distribution of devolution funds, the funds that we are getting are evenly distributed according to needs. Every ward is having its piece of the devolution cake,” said Lapapanzi councillor Richard Muzenda.
Chirumanzu RDC, which is made up of 25 wards, faces the onerous task of providing services to both rural and urban dwellers, whose needs are mostly different.
The council is taking advantage of the development of an iron and steel company at Manhize, some 40 kilometres outside Mvuma, to increase its revenue collection.
The US$1 billion iron ore mining project is being developed by China’s Tsingshan Holding Group.
Mvuma town planner Mr Tawanda Munatswa said they have a clear roadmap.
“We have the massive Manhize mining project near us. As Mvuma town, we are going to take advantage of the mine and provide housing services to the mineworkers,” he said.
By providing decent housing, the Chirumanzu RDC is supporting the Government’s National Development Strategy 1.
According to Mr Munatswa, the money that can be generated from the housing project can then be channelled towards the acquisition of a borehole drilling rig, which can be hired out and bring cash into council coffers.
Mvuma town falls under Chirumanzu RDC.
