The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter—
THE Government will ensure that 80 percent of the people who work at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mine at Chiadzwa are villagers from the Marange community and surrounding areas as a way of empowering the locals to derive meaningful benefits from the precious gems that are mined at their doorstep.
Responding to questions raised by Zanu-PF supporters at a rally in Nyanyadzi on Wednesday ahead of the Chimanimani West by-election slated for tomorrow (Saturday), the party’s secretary for administration, Dr Ignatius Chombo, said the party had communicated with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to implement the employment percentage ratio.
“It is disheartening to note that the local Marange community has nothing to show for the diamonds that were mined here for years. Roads are in bad shape, there are shortages of clinics and we are facing irrigation problems. We have heard your concerns and, as Government, we will ensure that 80 percent of the workers at the mines must come from surrounding villages. The prevailing situation at the mines at the moment is that we have more foreigners there and yet we have able-bodied unemployed youths in the villages who are struggling to make ends meet.
“We have told Minister Chidhakwa of your concerns and the situation will soon change. Of the number that is going to be employed at the mines, 80 percent must be locals and the remaining 20 percent will cater for foreigners,” he said and added:
“The issue of Community Share Ownership Trusts must be resolved quickly. Instead of getting the promised $10 million from the miners, we are told that not even a cent was given to the Trust. We want to rectify that situation and ensure that people are given what is due to them. Diamonds must benefit the people and not what we see here. There are no schools, clinics, roads and irrigation facilities that were supposed to have been developed or rehabilitated by funds from the mines. Zanu-PF is a people-centric party and all those concerns will be looked into and rectified. That I promise you.”
Zanu-PF’s candidate, Cde Nokuthula Matsikenyere will battle it out with Mr Peter Gudyanga (Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe), Mr Edmore Mtetwa (Independent) and Mr Pesanai Musakaruka (National Constitutional Assembly).
Dr Chombo promised the electorate a better future if they vote for Zanu-PF’s candidate in the by-election.
He said independent candidates and opposition political parties do not have the stamina to solve problems bedevilling the Chimanimani West
constituency.
“Let us vote wisely on Saturday and ensure that Zanu-PF wins resoundingly. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Norton. My message to you is that we went to a primary election and the people spoke and chose Cde Matsikenyere ahead of other contestants. Let us leave our differences aside. Those differences we had during primary election and unite as a party and ensure that our candidate wins
“We have set aside 5 000 litres of fuel that will be used in the constituency to ensure the smooth flowing of party programmes,” he said.
The secretary for administration said ZESA which was switching off irrigation schemes at Nyanyadzi and surrounding areas was directed to give farmers a reprieve and ensure that they till the land, produce food and pay later.
“Where do you think these farmers will get the money to pay for electricity after the country experienced three years of drought? We are saying let the farmers do their work and they will pay later. They were given inputs under Command Agriculture and the Presidential Inputs Scheme and by switching off power do you want their crops to wilt? No, that is not how we develop as a nation. Give them electricity and they will work on their plots and pay what is due,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made, said there was enough grain to feed people in the drought prone area till harvest time next year.
“We have enough supplies at GMB Biriiri to feed people and we have acquired more trucks to speed up distribution. The grain that we have is enough to feed us for the next six months and be assured that no one will starve.”
Dr Made said the school feeding programme was meant to ensure nutrition among pupils. He said Government would soon provide protein-rich beans and cooking oil amid concerns that the pupils were at times eating sadza without relish.
Zanu-PF secretary for transport and welfare, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate castigated the Zimbabwe National Water Authority for cutting supplies to irrigation farmers over unpaid arrears.
She said farmers struggling to make ends meet must access water for free till they are able to stand on their own and foot water bills.
“Zanu-PF takes care of its own people. Your candidate, Cde Matsikenyere is a hardworking woman. In less than a month, she has done a lot of work even if you have not yet voted for her. What she has done in that short space was never achieved by Engineer Munacho Mutezo who had his own personal interests. We will rehabilitate irrigation schemes and ensure that each school gets a borehole.
“We will construct small dams and weirs and ensure that we have enough water to irrigate our land as well as give our livestock. All this is achievable if we vote for Zanu-PF and not independent candidates,” she said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, called for unity among party supporters. She urged the electorate to flash out rogue elements that derail party programmes and scare away would-be supporters.
The party’s national political commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, said victory was certain. He said Politburo members were sent by President Mugabe to hold the star rallies and tell the electorate that Zanu-PF was a people’s party that listens and implement concerns of the majority. He urged the supporters to come out in their numbers tomorrow (Saturday) and vote to ensure a resounding victory for the party.
