News / National
Chiredzi Town Council to upgrade water supply systems
12 Dec 2023 at 08:57hrs | Views
Chiredzi Town Council has tabled an ambitious 5 year development plan which will see the town intensely improve water supply and modernize all its infrastructure.
This came out at a recent post 2023 election engagement meeting with the newly appointed substantive town secretary Wesley Kauma, the event was facilitated by Citizens in Action Southern Africa Zimbabwe (CIASA).
The Chiredzi Town Council will in 2024 partner with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) to augment water supply systems and ensure consistent supply of clean, safe and portable water.
In a report CIASA said more than 30% of the issues raised by citizens during the budget consultation meetings have been incorporated into the 2024 budget.
CIASA noted while there is room for improvement in the development of future budgets, the current prioritization of critical projects like access to water is a welcome development for the community of Chiredzi.
"During the meeting CIASA Projects Director Archbold Madida applauded Chiredzi Town Council for laying out such a progressive plan to increase access to clean, safe and portable water and Madida urged the local authority to ensure all programs are citizen driven, information is accessible on all projects, is inclusive and accessible in formats at all times," reads its report.
"At the same meeting the local authority assured the residents that water supply will be expanded to meet demand which has arisen due to population growth. The local authority emphasized that its main priority was to address the water challenges, which presents itself as one of the natural challenges the city is exposed to."
it noted that in other projects shared with available stakeholders the local authority has set in motion plans to rehabilitate Tshovani bus terminus to improve hygiene and create a comfortable environment for vehicles and passengers.
"Chiredzi Town Council has proposed to spend US$96 000 to install 80 streetlights along Inyathi Road and other areas across town as part of its 2024 budget. The solar installation projects became part of the town's plan after residents voiced concerns over the inadequate lighting along Inyathi which is the main link road from Chiredzi Central Business District (CBD) to Tongaat Huletts Sugar Company," reads the report.
"CIASA has done extensive work on budget literacy amongst residents in Chiredzi and the post-election engagement meeting highlighted that fiscal transparency is important for community development."
CIASA recommended to Chiredzi Town Council the creation of a e-platform which will be accessible to the residents where financial statements, budgets, full council minutes, expenditure tracking can be done online, a move that will help achieve fiscal transparency among many of our local authorities in Zimbabwe.
"CIASA strongly believes that such a move will help build healthier communities as active participation of residents in council projects is a key cog for the development of any community'" it said.
"CIASA also urged the Council to develop with the environment in mind. Chiredzi falls under the Argo-ecological region 5 and in the past the town has had serious droughts and very high temperatures. "
CIASA urged the local authority to invest towards green engineering, employing smart and clean technologies that will lead to the realization of a modern live-able town, that uses resources sustainably and sparingly, minimize emissions to protect future generations.
Madida expressed gratitude to Chiredzi Town Council for being responsive to citizens' calls while recommending citizens to continuously engage with the local authority beyond budget consultations. He noted that despite the current noble plans, Chiredzi has been rocked by corruption and looting scandals over the past years and he urged the local authority to exercise honest and transparency in its pursuit of building public institutions that are highly efficient and accountable.
He said only a robust transparent and accountable management ecosystem will help bring sanity to the Low-veld town and make it realize its plans.
This came out at a recent post 2023 election engagement meeting with the newly appointed substantive town secretary Wesley Kauma, the event was facilitated by Citizens in Action Southern Africa Zimbabwe (CIASA).
The Chiredzi Town Council will in 2024 partner with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) to augment water supply systems and ensure consistent supply of clean, safe and portable water.
In a report CIASA said more than 30% of the issues raised by citizens during the budget consultation meetings have been incorporated into the 2024 budget.
CIASA noted while there is room for improvement in the development of future budgets, the current prioritization of critical projects like access to water is a welcome development for the community of Chiredzi.
"During the meeting CIASA Projects Director Archbold Madida applauded Chiredzi Town Council for laying out such a progressive plan to increase access to clean, safe and portable water and Madida urged the local authority to ensure all programs are citizen driven, information is accessible on all projects, is inclusive and accessible in formats at all times," reads its report.
"At the same meeting the local authority assured the residents that water supply will be expanded to meet demand which has arisen due to population growth. The local authority emphasized that its main priority was to address the water challenges, which presents itself as one of the natural challenges the city is exposed to."
it noted that in other projects shared with available stakeholders the local authority has set in motion plans to rehabilitate Tshovani bus terminus to improve hygiene and create a comfortable environment for vehicles and passengers.
"Chiredzi Town Council has proposed to spend US$96 000 to install 80 streetlights along Inyathi Road and other areas across town as part of its 2024 budget. The solar installation projects became part of the town's plan after residents voiced concerns over the inadequate lighting along Inyathi which is the main link road from Chiredzi Central Business District (CBD) to Tongaat Huletts Sugar Company," reads the report.
"CIASA has done extensive work on budget literacy amongst residents in Chiredzi and the post-election engagement meeting highlighted that fiscal transparency is important for community development."
CIASA recommended to Chiredzi Town Council the creation of a e-platform which will be accessible to the residents where financial statements, budgets, full council minutes, expenditure tracking can be done online, a move that will help achieve fiscal transparency among many of our local authorities in Zimbabwe.
"CIASA strongly believes that such a move will help build healthier communities as active participation of residents in council projects is a key cog for the development of any community'" it said.
"CIASA also urged the Council to develop with the environment in mind. Chiredzi falls under the Argo-ecological region 5 and in the past the town has had serious droughts and very high temperatures. "
CIASA urged the local authority to invest towards green engineering, employing smart and clean technologies that will lead to the realization of a modern live-able town, that uses resources sustainably and sparingly, minimize emissions to protect future generations.
Madida expressed gratitude to Chiredzi Town Council for being responsive to citizens' calls while recommending citizens to continuously engage with the local authority beyond budget consultations. He noted that despite the current noble plans, Chiredzi has been rocked by corruption and looting scandals over the past years and he urged the local authority to exercise honest and transparency in its pursuit of building public institutions that are highly efficient and accountable.
He said only a robust transparent and accountable management ecosystem will help bring sanity to the Low-veld town and make it realize its plans.
Source - Byo24News
