Story by Josephine Mugiyo
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged urban and rural local authorities to complement the government’s efforts in improving the people’s livelihoods by prioritising the delivery of essential social services.
For some local authorities, attending to the basics like refuse collection, provision of clean water and attending to burst sewer lines has remained a challenge with residents in urban areas like Harare and other cities now all too familiar with the lack of services.
As President Mnangagwa officially commissioned Chilmund Chemicals, a water treatment chemical plant in Bindura this Friday, he spoke on the need for local authorities to prioritize service delivery for which they collect money from ratepayers.
“I challenge local authorities in both rural and urban, to complement the national initiatives by prioritising and budgeting for the delivery of essential social services including the provision of refuse collection, water, and sanitation among others. You see the municipalities collecting rates and people don’t get water and potholes are all over. Some of you travel and don’t bring the experience and expertise you see outside,” said the President.
The US$25 million plant will ease the country’s burden of importing water treatment chemicals as it has the capacity to meet the country’s needs as it produces 10 tonnes of aluminium sulphate per hour.
President Mnangagwa urged more entities to invest and develop the county’s provinces to ensure the agenda of creating vibrant provincial and rural economies is fulfilled.
“I commend the bold decision by Chilmund Chemicals Private Limited to invest and manufacture locally here in Bindura. I invite more companies to take up business opportunities throughout our provinces towards growing provincial economies and realizing development, modernisation, and industrialisation that leaves no one and no place behind,” he said.
The constant calls by President Mnangagwa for the country’s young minds to answer the needs of industry through their innovations are paying off as evidenced by the establishment of Chilmund Chemicals.
