The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda recently in ZAKA
ACQUIRING a basic civic document like a birth certificate was not that simple for the people of Baramhanza, Mageza, Chipato and Mupedzanhuna villages in Zaka West constituency.
Some villagers would walk at least 45km to the nearest registry office, while those that chose to use public transport would pay at least US$5 for a one-way trip to Jerera Growth Point.
In the Vesa area, most children still do not have birth certificates and some adults do not possess national identity cards.
The deceased have not been spared, as some have not yet been issued with death certificates. But ground-breaking projects being carried out under the devolution programme that is being implemented by President Mnangagwa’s administration, have led to a marked change in circumstances and fortunes of ordinary villagers.
Devolution funds from central Government to local authorities have been able to bankroll a major makeover of Zaka.
To date, over $1 billion out of $2,9 billion budgeted for this year has been channelled to various community infrastructure development projects countrywide to address basic social needs.
And this is beginning to be felt by people in this remote rural district.
A brand new registry office has been built at Vesa Shopping Centre, construction of Mudzamba Secondary School is in progress and refurbishment of Chenyu Bridge has been completed.
For Mr Juniors Magadzire, had the projects been undertaken years back, the area would have “improved vastly”.
“We are happy with the projects happening here. If devolution was introduced way back, remote areas like ours would have improved vastly by now,” he told The Sunday Mail.
Zaka West legislator Mr Ophias Murambiwa said they plan to open the new registry in January next year.
“We received about $37 million from the Zaka Rural District Council as part of the devolution funds and this has empowered us to embark on a number of projects in the constituency,” he said.
“This building (pointing to the new offices) was once a council bar but we converted it into a registry office so that people can easily access important documents like birth certificates, national IDs and death certificates. There was no registry office in this constituency and people would walk for 45km from areas such as Baramhanza, Mageza, Mupedzanhuna and Chipato to Jerera Growth Point to access the documents. Most children here do not have birth certificates; most learners do not have birth documents. Some end up writing Grade Seven exams without birth certificates.
“The Registrar-General’s Office has promised us machinery and personnel and we are targeting to open the Vesa Registry Office in January 2021.”
Next year, the constituency plans to construct clinics in Dekeza and Charuka, as well as constructing a dam to improve the standards of living in nearby communities.
“We have applied for a clinic in Ward 24 — Charuka Clinic. It is on the devolution budget. We have three wards without a clinic but that will be a thing of the past once we are done with Charuka Clinic.
“We are also targeting Weird Dam and this should address irrigation issues and promote market gardening,” said Mr Murambiwa.
Local councillor, Mr Munyaradzi Chipato, said the devolution programmes could materially change and livelihoods.
“It is indeed a master stroke,” he said.
“This registry office, which was built thanks to devolution funds, is also a result of collective efforts from the community. We got free labour from the community, the District Development Fund (DDF) offered a free tractor and soon our people will enjoy the benefits.”
Vesa Registry Office project treasurer Mr Mugiriki Hwaire is bullish about future prospects.
“We have a lot of issues here in the constituency, but I am sure with these devolution funds we will soon be sailing smoothly,” he said.
ZANU PF Ward 17 chairperson, Mr Godfrey Muzvimwe, urged communities to unite for a common purpose “of developing their areas”.
“As the party, we want to applaud the President for being a leader who is always thinking about his people. We are working together as a people here in Zaka West so that our children and future generations can enjoy the fruits of today’s labour,” he said.
The refurbishment of Chenyu Bridge has particularly impacted on local villagers whose children used to miss lessons during the rainy season.
The bridge links Wards 17, 22, 23 and 33.
“Our children would miss classes during the rainy season because the rivers would be flooded. But now, they can access education without problems, thanks to this new bridge. We still have some children waking up as early as 3am to prepare for a 15km journey from Mudzara to Maguta Secondary School. But, I am sure that things will get better when Mudzara Secondary School is completed,” said Mr Ngoni Mujoma, a villager.
