The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS in the Diaspora must always explore ways of investing back and develop the country, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has said.
VP Mohadi said this during the handover ceremony of a refurbished classroom block at Exelsior Primary School in Vumba last Saturday.
During the same function, Exelsior Primary School was renamed after the late Vice-President and Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Nkomo.
VP Mohadi, who is also the board chairman of the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) which financed the refurbishment of the school, said Zimbabweans in the Diaspora should emulate Mutare South Member of the House of Assembly, Cde Jefrey Ngome, who invested in the country after running successful entities in South Africa.
“Here in Mutare South constituency, we are privileged to have a living example of one Zimbabwean who ventured into business in South Africa and later found it prudent to come back and invest in the development of the country. We are proud of his efforts and we call upon more Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to emulate that,” he said.
VP Mohadi said several names that were inherited from the colonial era have no significance to locals.
“We are renaming this school after liberation war icon and Father Zimbabwe, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo. He was instrumental in the formation of this school by virtue of his immense contribution to the formation of the Development Trust of Zimbabwe.
“The renaming of the school becomes part of a broader initiative meant to restore pride in our identity and history as well as celebrate the life of our leaders, both the living and the departed,” said VP Mohadi.
The name changes are aimed at honouring the country’s national heroes, as well as nationalists from the region.
VP Mohadi chairs the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, Social Services and Poverty Reduction and National Peace and Reconciliation which, among other roles, oversees the renaming of colonial inherited places and buildings.
In an interview on the sidelines of the handover ceremony, Nuanetsi Estates board chairman and businessman, Mr Solomon Mutasa, said they are happy with the progress they have made in uplifting the standard of life in the area.
“When we came to start work here there was nothing. We are happy with the progress we have made over the years.
“We are grateful for the support we have received from President Mnangagwa, who is patron for DTZ as well as our chairman, VP Mohadi. We have no doubt that we will continue making commendable strides in developing this area,” he said.
Through its business initiatives, Nuanetsi Estates finances DTZ developmental projects.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, war veterans chairman, Cde Chris Mutsvangwa and Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba also graced the occasion.
