Story by Tafadzwa Chigwedere
THE people of Kanyemba in Mashonaland Central Province are set to benefit from development projects being rolled out in the area in the wake of revelations that the government is working on a US$1, 3 billion grand development plan for the area.
Various government departments including the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Services of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were in Kanyemba for a consumer and stakeholder outreach programme this Saturday.
The engagement was an eye-opener into the challenges faced by the people of Kenyemba.
“There is no network connectivity here, we actually use Zambian network services,” noted a resident.
Another resident said, “Information is taking time to reach to us because of poor network.”
While another noted, “There are no banks in Kanyemba, we have to travel to Mvurwi.”
Chief Kanyemba emphasised, “We have issues of concern such as the networks, it’s our wish that we become part of the national development.”
Their challenges are set to be a thing of the past amid revelations that various services will be available in the area as part of fulfilling the second republic’s agenda of leaving no one and no place behind in the development matrix.
“The challenges that were raised are very important. Under POTRAZ there is a universal fund which is earmarked for the marginalised areas which are considered as not economically viable by telecommunications providers as well as infrastructure sharing,” said POTRAZ Deputy Director Economics, Tariffs and Competition, Dr Vengesai Magadzire.
“These engagements are very crucial, especially in the communities that are in the peripherals …to make sure that we leave no one and no place behind,” Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Public Relations Officer, Mr Christopher Kamba.
The government is working on a Kanyemba development grand plan, which is expected to see an investment of US$1.3 billion.
Under the programme, a town is set to be established in Kanyemba, alongside facilities such as banks, a hotel, a conference and wellness centre, a wildlife research centre, a solar farm and various sports facilities.
