TONGOGARA Rural District Council has put forward a $4,9 million budget proposal for 2019, with key highlights indicating plans to facelift ChaChaCha business centre and upgrade infrastructure in the rural area.
BY BRENNA MATENDERE
The budget proposal, which now awaits approval by the government, also make provisions for a potable water programme that will see drilling of boreholes in all the 24 wards and construction of a 4km tarred road leading to Donga business centre.
The 2018 budget for Tongogara was a meagre $1,9 million and it fell short of implementing key projects that could improve livelihoods of people in the vast rural district and also uplift Dongonga business centre to a standard place.
Tongogara RDC chief executive officer Brian Rufasha said the local authority has identified specific projects to be carried out in the Shurugwi South area.
“Our budget was initially pegged at $2,5 million for next year. However, we were advised that Treasury will be channelling in more money for us through various grants and so it now stands at $4,9 million. We want to hit the ground running next year by initiating a number of projects,” he said.
He explained that each of the 24 wards will have two boreholes drilled, making a total of 48 water sources.
Rufasha said Dongo bridge, which connects Shurugwi with Zvishavane will also get a facelift and clinics are set to be built in Gamwa, Batanayi and Tongogara centre. “We also intend to build a new school at Tongogara business centre which will start with two classroom blocks.
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“On top of this, the other budgetary plans are to buy a grader for about $500 000 and embark on levelling of all gravel roads in our area,” he said.
The Tongogara RDC has identified new revenue sources through the registration of 55 small-scale miners operating in the district, a development that will widen the coffers of the local authority. Tariffs and rates for residents will not be increased, according to the budget proposal.
