THE relocation of Matabeleland North government offices from the Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo to Lupane has been delayed again due to lack of funding to complete housing infrastructure for civil servants.
Since 1980, Matabeleland North provincial government offices have been operating from Bulawayo, almost 200 kilometres away.
In September last year, Cabinet approved the relocation of Matabeleland North provincial offices from Bulawayo to Lupane centre.
Information minister, Jenfan Muswere (pictured), said 19 houses had already been allocated to 55 government officials from the various ministries, departments and agencies for the relocation.
Back then, Muswere said the public would be served from Lupane with effect from September 2024.
This publication established that only 55 workers from various ministries have been relocated from Bulawayo with the rest remaining in the city due to lack of accommodation.
Matebeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister, Richard Moyo, confirmed the lack of accommodation, which is hindering the relocation of all workers from Bulawayo.
“Some of the staff is already in Lupane, but others are still in Bulawayo because there is an issue of accommodation that is not enough for everyone,” Moyo said.
- Relocation of govt offices to Lupane stalls again
Keep Reading
He said the complete relocation will depend on the disbursements of funds from the 2025 budget.
“We are hoping that by the first or second quarter, everyone would have been relocated to Lupane,” Moyo said.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution permanent secretary, Sithandiwe Ncube, echoed similar sentiments.
“There is a challenge of accommodation. That is why only 55 staff members have been relocated there,” Ncube revealed.
“Almost every ministry is now operating from the Lupane government complex.
“We were given keys to the offices in the last week of December last year and operations only began at the beginning of January.”
The completion of the government complex in Lupane has been a moving at a slow pace since August 2012.
A number of deadlines have been missed due to funding challenges.
Critics have said there has never been any political will by the government to develop Matabeleland North as seen in its failure to have its offices in the provincial capital.
