Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. EPWORTH North legislator Zivai Mhetu has revealed that the ZiG1,3 million (US$43 223) Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 2025, has been channelled towards community development, with a strong focus on road rehabilitation and efforts to secure improved water access.
This comes at a time when the constituency’s roads are in a sorry state, while government is undertaking the rehabilitation of major roads in the country.
In a statement, Mhetu said they held community consultations on the utilisation of the CDF money and residents overwhelmingly prioritised road rehabilitation; the funds were allocated accordingly.
“I, alongside the CDF committee, came back to you for guidance on how the CDF should be used. The majority of residents indicated that road rehabilitation was the highest priority; residents cited that it was a crucial step towards the attainment of title deeds. When the fund was released this year, totalling ZiG 1,3 million, we acted accordingly,” he said.
In ward 1, roads leading to Muguta Secondary School via Kedish were graded and gravelled, and potholes from Chihota turnoff to Maperera were patched, while sections at Komboni Yatsva bus stop and Chiremba shops also received gravelling and compaction.
Ward 6 saw the grading of Speed Market and the route from Honor Wisdom School to Mared tuckshop, extending to Domboremaziso, with 500 metres gravelled and compacted, in ward 7, the road from Corner Auction and Delport Road to the quarry stone area was graded and gravelled, and the Adelaide sports ground was prepared for community use.
In total, 1,5 kilometres across the three wards were gravelled and compacted.
Mhetu also provided an update on the electrification of schools and the ongoing title deeds programme.
“I am actively pursuing the electrification of schools, including Muguta Secondary School, Mabvazuva Secondary School and Chinamano Primary School.
“I can confidently promise that Mabvazuva Secondary will be electrified by December 2025. Our broader goal is to ensure that the entire Epworth North Constituency gains access to power.
“We are working to expedite the approval of layout plans to pave way for the commencement of road construction, as well as sewage and water reticulation, to accelerate service delivery and unlock meaningful development in the area.”
Beyond road infrastructure, Mhetu provided updates on other crucial development areas, such as water access, revealing that Marondera Town Council has agreed to supply water to Epworth North, citing surplus capacity.
However, the connection has been delayed since 2023 due to the non-issuance of four critical letters by the Epworth Local Board town secretary’s office.
While acknowledging the long-term plan to draw water from Kunzvi Dam, Mhetu said the short-term solution was to access water from Marondera’s dams.
The dams include Wenimbi, Muchekeranwa and Mupfure.
“I approached Marondera Town Council to request water supply for our community and they agreed, citing a surplus in their capacity.
“However, the delay lies in the non-issuance of four critical letters by the Epworth Local Board town secretary’s office since 2023, letters that are required to activate this connection.”
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