Category: zimbabwe

Leonard Ncube in SIABUWA, Binga

Zimbabwe will remain a unitary State and no amount of machinations from the country’s detractors, or those calling for a separate State, will divide the country, President Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters who attended the ruling party’s star rally at Siabuwa Business Centre in Binga yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic was sorry to the people of Binga, as since Independence, there had never been a visit by a Head of State to the area.

The multi-lingual President charmed the crowd as he addressed them fluently in their Tonga language while also switching to IsiNdebele, Shona and English.

President Mnangagwa said as a listening leader, his administration has heard the plea by Binga, as presented by chiefs when they met ZANU PF Vice President Cde Kembo Mohadi recently.

“You have heard me saying Zimbabwe is one. The Government of Zimbabwe is one. If you ask spirit mediums in any part of the country or ask God, you will be told that Zimbabwe is ruled by ZANU PF. We are a unitary State and those who want to divide or separate the country should be exorcised of the spirit of Legion.

“We want ZANU PF leaders here to unite. If you fail or refuse to be united I will come and fix that. No one has ZANU PF in his or her pocket but ZANU PF has everyone in its pocket.”

Binga has been in the hands of the opposition since 2000 but the ruling party now seeks to reclaim Binga North constituency which fell vacant when then MDC-T’s Prince Dubeko Sibanda was recalled by his party.

The President said the Second Republic would attend to all issues affecting Binga.

“From today we have agreed with my team that we will regularly come here. Two weeks ago, I sent my deputy, Cde Kembo Mohadi, to come and speak to chiefs. We want to address all your concerns and we will sit down with you and see to it that we fix all your problems. I am happy to come here today after you invited me to meet with you people of Siabuwa. Zimbabwe got independent in 1980 and for many years, more than 30 years under President Mugabe, we didn’t get to come here.

“I want you to forgive us and from today things have changed. I want to say the truth that for the past 20 years, Binga, you were not voting for ZANU PF. It’s not your fault but ZANU PF’s fault. Henceforth, all of us, as we walk through this journey, I want us to unite and move together. In this development agenda, let’s all contribute to our development,” said President Mnangagwa in the Tonga language.

He said the Second Republic had committed to develop the country through Devolution which was allocated $42, 5 billion with Matabeleland North receiving $3, 2 billion, in the 2022 national budget.

He said Binga will get a vocational training school, a nurse training school, four Zupco buses, road infrastructure improvement, water infrastructure and solar projects. The Government through the District Development Fund is rehabilitating roads and solar powered boreholes at each of the 17 chiefs’ homesteads.

The President said the Deka Pipeline Project he commissioned on Friday, the 5 MW solar power plant at Cross Mabale and Lake Gwayi-Shangani as well as the Lupane Provincial Hospital are some of the projects that are meant to uplift people’s livelihoods and improve the economy.

The Lake Gwayi-Shangani project is a vital component of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project which was initiated in 1912, but is only coming to reality now with the construction of the Lake set to be  completed this year. This comes after the Second Republic poured resources into the project.

The project is viewed as the solution to perennial water problems in Bulawayo and the pipeline will also create a green belt throughout Matabeleland North province.

“These projects will bring respect to chiefs and if a chief chooses to leave all this and go to darkness in the opposition, will that be a proper chief? If you want schools, hospitals and roads to be built for you, only ZANU PF can do that,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President said he will ask Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cde Kazembe Kazembe to deploy officers to each of the Binga chiefs’ areas to register scores of youths who do not have national identity documents.

He warned Non-Governmental Organisations that meddle in politics to stop it or leave the country.

President Mnangagwa said the Government had acceded to an appeal for a Local Board status to Binga Rural District Council and assigned Local Government and Public Works Minister, Cde July Moyo, to facilitate the upgrade.

Sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries, he said, were hurting ordinary citizens but had not deterred Zimbabwe from growing its economy using local resources with the mining industry on course to attain a US$12 billion industry next year.

The President said under the country’s foreign policy, Zimbabwe is not an enemy to anyone, as its engagement and re-engagement drive embraces all members of the global family of nations.

He said the Government now awards contracts to local companies to support local industries as exemplified by the road rehabilitation programme that is being carried out by local firms.

President Mnangagwa said the Government will also construct a decent border facility in Binga.

In attendance were Vice President Costantino Chiwenga, Cde Mohadi, the party’s secretary for administration Cde Obert Mpofu, national political commissar Cde Mike Bimha, Government Ministers, traditional leaders and several other leaders drawn from a cross section of society.

At the event, the party introduced Cde Kudakwashe Mavula Munsaka who is the party’s Binga North candidate, and Tsholotsho South candidate, Cde Musa Ncube as well as Cdes Tonderai Mutasa, Bekithemba Mlotshwa, and Bongani Ndlovu for local government seats in Victoria Falls and Bubi respectively in the by-elections set for Saturday.

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THE developmental trajectory adopted by the Second Republic, which has seen massive infrastructure projects being implemented across the country, is a major economic enabler as Zimbabwe accelerates its modernisation and industrialisation agenda.

The construction of roads, dams, power stations, water pipelines, airports, border posts, steel plants, and other key infrastructure, is a game changer which will spur economic growth and set Zimbabwe on a path to attaining an upper middle income status by 2030 as envisaged by Government.

So far, most of the projects are on course with a few delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and other logistical setbacks, but by and large the rebirth of Zimbabwe as an economic force is on track.

Infrastructure development stimulates activity in the economy and the Second Republic is on the correct path in embarking on projects that position the economy on a trajectory that leads to growth.

For instance, the construction of dams will feed irrigation agriculture which given the unpredictability of rain-fed agriculture and climate change, is the future.  Dams are also being utilised for fish farming and other activities that benefit communities in their environs.

Communities around Tugwi-Mukosi dam in Masvingo and near Lake Mutirikwi are reaping the benefits of being close to massive water bodies. It’s only a matter of time before a greenbelt is established around rural communities in Masvingo province, spawning a rural industrialisation drive.

In Matabeleland North, another agrarian revolution in underway with the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani and a pipeline linking the dam to Bulawayo. When complete, it will be the third largest inland dam after Tugwi-Mukosi and Lake Mutirikwi.  A greenbelt is envisaged on the 252km stretch between the lake and Bulawayo with communities around Binga and Hwange also set to benefit when another 122km pipeline is constructed linking Lake Gwayi-Shangani and the Zambezi River.

In the meantime, when the dam is commissioned next year, villagers in Lupane, parts of Tsholotsho, Insuza, Umguza and nearby areas will benefit from irrigation schemes which will sprout along the pipeline to Bulawayo whose construction has begun.

Besides permanently resolving Bulawayo’s perennial water problems, the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project will lead to setting up of 10 000 hectares of irrigation projects for communities along the pipeline.

In addition, a 10MW hydro-electric power station will be established on site, powering schools, rural service centres and other infrastructure around the dam.

When we consider that the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project was first mooted in 1912, over a century ago, by the white colonial Government, the remarkable progress made to date where it is at 60 percent completion, is totally amazing given that it started a year ago.

Elsewhere, Government has embarked on a massive rehabilitation of its major power station, Hwange Thermal, to ensure that it meets the power needs of a rapidly developing economy.

The construction of Units 7 and 8 at Hwange, expected to add 600MW to the national grid, will ensure that the country adequately supplies its industry, mining sector, irrigation schemes, and other key sectors of the economy.

With increased capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector, irrigation development, a growing mining sector, and increased productivity all round in the economy, Government predicts that by next year demand for electricity would have risen by about 400MW to an average peak demand of 2 000MW.

It is thus imperative for stakeholders in the energy sector to be proactive and ensure continuous development of power infrastructure in line with growing demand.

In this regard, we are delighted that players in the industry are responding positively to Government’s calls and complementing its efforts to grow the economy.

On Friday, President Mnangagwa officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a US$48,1 million, 42km water pipeline to supply water to Hwange Power Station from the Zambezi River.

The pipeline will increase water supply to the power station from the current 3 500 cubic meters to 6 000 cubic meters per hour.

The project will be completed in March next year in time for the commissioning of Hwange Unit 8 and ensuring that the expanded power station is adequately supplied with water.

The President also commissioned a 5MW solar power plant at Cross Mabale, about 80 km outside Hwange, on the same day, providing a source of clean energy to the nation.

Being energy self-sufficient is key to achieving the goals of Government’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

The involvement of other players other than Government in the electricity generation sector cannot be overemphasised. We are also pleased that the various infrastructure projects that Government has embarked on are coming together with the active participation of Zimbabweans.

True to the mantra, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ordinary people are appreciative of the projects at various stages of construction cross the length and breadth of Zimbabwe and have taken ownership of them.

We also take note of the role played by Zimbabwe’s all weather friends such as China and India in providing funding and technical expertise in some of the major projects.

Zimbabwe is indeed cruising full steam ahead with its drive to modernise its economy, rebuild its infrastructure and fulfil the wishes, dreams and aspirations of its people.

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Sunday Mail Reporter

The US$25 million modern pharmaceutical warehouse under construction at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital will be completed next month ahead of commissioning in May.

Harare and Beijing signed an agreement for the construction of the warehouse when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country in December 2015, leading to the signing of agreements for 12 projects in key economic sectors.

The ongoing project is being funded through a grant from the Chinese government.

On completion, the warehouse will hold approximately 10 000 pallets of medicine.

The existing National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) warehouse accommodates only nine pallets.

Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail, the Chinese Embassy economic and commercial office said the warehouse will have seven individual buildings.

“Currently, the pharmaceutical warehouse project is at the final stage of equipment installation, commissioning, outdoor landscaping and storing rack installation, with a total 97 percent of the work having been completed,” said the embassy.

“The total covering area of the project is around 43 000 square metres and its total construction area is about 13 700 square metres.

“After completion, it will be able to hold approximately 10 000 pallets.

“The project includes warehouse one with a 480 square metre refrigerating storage room providing temperature from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, warehouse two, a power distribution house, a fire-fighting pumping house, a waste holding house and two guardrooms.

“In total, there will be seven individual buildings.

“Due to the impact of the pandemic, progress has been a bit slow. However, we still have confidence that the project can be completed by April and handed over in May of this year.”

The current NatPharm warehouse was inherited from the Rhodesian government in 1980.

The new warehouse is anticipated to make recording, storage and stock-taking easy.

In addition, its systems will be computerised as opposed to the current manual set-up.

Completion of the warehouse comes as Government is looking at ways to stimulate local production of pharmaceuticals products to reduce over-reliance on imports, which at times presents a huge risk to national health security.

Last year, Government launched the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Strategy in Zimbabwe (2021-2025), which seeks to double the production of essential drugs.

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Nelson Gahadza

Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has said the economy remains solid and on track to achieve projected growth rate despite threats of a subdued rainfall season as well as rising oil prices triggered by a war between Russia and Ukraine.

The economy is this year projected to grow by 5,5 percent anchored by increased mining and firming commodity prices, manufacturing and agriculture as a result of normal to above normal rainfall.

However, the current agricultural season has been marked by a false start in some areas and developments in Eastern Europe have since pushed up the price of oil and other commodities like wheat and maize.

Minister Ncube told journalists on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Metal Casting Summit held in Harare on Friday that the government at the moment was satisfied with the performance of other sectors such as mining and manufacturing which have capacity to offset the threats.

“At the moment we are following the rainfall pattern and currently we have completed the first crop assessment and we are waiting for the second assessment so that we get a clearer picture from particularly the agriculture sector, which is a key sector in the economic growth matrix and its link with other sectors.

“But so far we are very pleased with the performance of other sectors such as mining, manufacturing, construction supported by the opening up of the economy with tourism picking up again largely driven by domestic tourism,” he said.

In the 2022 national budget, the Finance Minister said this year’s economic growth target would also be underpinned by subdued Covid 19 pandemic; relatively stable exchange rate and declining inflation.

However, Minister Mthuli said shocks on the global market that have resulted in imported inflation have had an impact in particular on oil and wheat prices.

“Therefore, we will only make a review in the second half of the year. But on the maize front, we have already allowed the importation of maize to allow Grain Millers to supplement their stocks,” he said.

He noted that on fuel prices the Government will continue to watch and act appropriately in terms of the fuel subsidy programme through changing levies on fuel price.

“Therefore, we will continue to watch the situation and make appropriate communication in due course. But we have done our calculations and strategies on the fuel subsidy and we have actually been running this subsidy for the last five months and we had not publicly announced it but we have been doing it,” he said.

He noted that the way the Government has done it is to reduce the fuel levy from 12,47 cents per litre to 8,7 cents per litre and we have done that to ensure we lower the surge in fuel price.

“If you notice since about October last year, the fuel price has been largely stable and we will keep it going for as long as we can afford it, but it is necessary to cushion consumers,” he said.

On Mining, the Minister noted that prices of some of the commodities have also been rising and these include gold, nickel which will strengthen the country’s export receipts and foreign currency.

“The tourism and construction sectors are likely to remain stable and support growth,” he said. According to Minister Ncube, the economy is anchored on the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which among other things aims to enhance mineral beneficiation and value addition through creation of value chains to anchor the national re-industrialisation policy, SADC protocol in mining and beneficiation of metals as envisioned under the Africa Mining Vision and in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

During the NDS1 period (2021-2025), the broad objective is to rebalance the economy by gradually improving the contribution of the secondary sector to GDP and increasing the contribution of value-added exports to total exports.

Speaking at the summit, Minister Ncube said the Government through NDS1 is aware of the need to re-industrialise and unlock Zimbabwe’s metal casting industry in the short-medium and long term plans.

“If we extract mineral metals through mining, beneficiate these through tool making and die casting, we can begin to re-industrialise our economy,” he said.

He said the Government sees opportunities to grow the industry and take advantage of various incentives that are available for all businesses that support import substitution and export generation.

Minister Ncube said the Government will fully support the promotion of import substitution of metals products through relevant policy interventions.

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BY SILAS NKALA

NGUNGUMBANE Satellite Secondary School in Mberengwa, Midlands only has two qualified teachers amid reports that efforts to engage the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to address the staff shortages have been futile.

The school  was established in 2012, and has an estimated 140 learners with one class for Form 1 to Form 4 respectively.

A number of satellite schools were set up after the land reform programme.

According to parents, learners wrote their final 2021 Ordinary Level examinations without having learnt English, Ndebele, Commerce, Geography and Agriculture because of lack of qualified teachers to teach the subjects.

Nothiwani Dlodlo, a villager, said they even engaged Primary and Secondary Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu over the desperate teacher staffing challenges at the satellite school, but there has been no change.

“Last year, Form 4 students had no Ndebele, English, Geography, Commerce and Agriculture teachers until they wrote their final examinations,” Dlodlo said.

“We raised this with the Mberengwa District schools inspector (DSI) Germination Moyo and he promised to have his issue addressed.

“We also engaged the Education minister, but up to now there are no teachers.”

Dlodlo said it was disturbing that schools were about to close for the first term with students having learnt nothing, a situation contributing to a poor pass rate.

The Mberengwa DSI confirmed the teacher staffing challenges at the school when contacted for comment, but claimed his office was seized with the issue.

“The issue is that the school used to have five teachers in line with the number of learners it had,” Moyo said.

“One teacher transferred, while another absconded and never returned.

“There is a process to replace those teachers, but in the case of one who absconded, he has to be removed from the system before he is replaced and the ministry is working on that.

He said parents must be patient as addressing staff shortages was not an overnight process.

“Everything is in the process of being addressed even though parents may feel short changed.

“The minister, deputy minister and all other ministry officials are concerned over this.”

He added: “I am responsible for this district and do you think that I cannot be concerned about the poor results in one of my schools?

“The problem we have at the school is small enrolment and due to that, it cannot have more than five teachers.”

Meanwhile, it also emerged that at Ngungumbane Primary School that was founded in 1932, at least 30 students who wrote their Grade Seven in 1995 have not received their examination slips.

In rural Matabeleland, a number of schools have poor infrastructure and many qualified teachers do not want to work there.

Due to lack of resources and shortage of qualified teachers, the pass rate for most of the schools is always at 0%.

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