The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
THE Second Republic will continue rolling out life-changing projects in Manicaland to grow the provincial economy and improve people’s livelihoods, President Mnangagwa told thousands of Zanu PF supporters at a provincial star rally held at Handina Secondary School in Makoni South on Wednesday.
Addressing the bumper crowd, President Mnangagwa said Manicaland’s future was bright as more signature projects would be rolled out during the Second Republic’s second term of office which will commence after next Wednesday’s harmonised elections.
“Manicaland’s future is bright and as our economy grows, we want to assure you that as the Second Republic, we will ensure the development of all parts of the country as evidenced by the construction of dams like Marovanyati and Muchekeranwa to provide relief against climate change.
“We have successfully rehabilitated Murambinda, Nyanyadzi, Mugobera, Romsley Irrigation Schemes. Work was also completed at Nzvimbe, Chiduku, Chikwiri and Chimene Irrigation Schemes.
“We are also developing an irrigation scheme at Arda Katiyo Estate. Water supply and reticulation projects that have been completed in Manicaland include Ndarima Water Piped Scheme in Buhera, Masvosva Piped Water Scheme and Bingaguru Piped Water Scheme. The Magamba Water Reticulation Project is ongoing,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “Manicaland has diamonds, gold and lithium. We have so many lithium deposits in Manicaland, which means more employment opportunities after their exploration. We have since commissioned the Sabi Star Lithium Plant in Buhera, which is already employing a lot of locals.
“We are also constructing the Gemmology Centre in Mutare and the first phase is already complete. We are moving towards the completion of the second phase so that we process our diamonds in Manicaland.
“Since Manicaland has gold, you are also going to benefit from the gold centres being spearheaded by the Mines and Mining Development Minister, Honourable Winston Chitando. A gold centre is to be established in Penhalonga in Mutasa District.”
Manicaland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also set to increase as the province will leverage on Government’s plans to utilise the Sea Port of Beira as the major trade route for both exports and imports.
“To ensure the easy flow of exports and imports, we are taking advantage of our good relationships with Mozambique to develop the Sea Port of Beira and an adjacent port to Beira.
“This means we have to dualise the Harare-Mutare Highway. This will be one of the major projects for Government to embark on during our second term of office so that the majority of our exports and imports are transported using this route.
“It is only about 600km from Harare to Beira, rather than travelling more than 2000km to Durban in South Africa,” said President Mnangagwa.
Turning to the health sector, President Mnagagwa said the country has sufficient medical oxygen, all thanks to the Verify Engineering Medical Oxygen and Gas Plant that was established at Feruka on the outskirts of Mutare.
The multi-million Oxygen and Gas Plant was commissioned by President Mnangagwa in August 2021.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic hit us, we decided to establish our own medical oxygen plant in Mutare. We are now exporting medical oxygen. Only one week’s medical oxygen production is sufficient for the country while the rest is for exports,” said President Mnangagwa.
Verify Engineering has already penetrated the Mozambican gas market and is supplying the country with more than 70 tonnes of oxygen gas bi-monthly.
More jobs are being created as Verify Engineering is installing oxygen tanks in Beira, Chimoio and Tete in Mozambique.
In Beira, Verifying Engineering is setting up two 20-tonne oxygen tanks at hospitals; as well as 15-tonne and 20-tonne tanks in Chimoio and Tete respectively.
On infrastructure development, President Mnangagwa said: “The Zanu PF-led Government is upgrading roads and bridges, airports and border posts.
“In Manicaland, we have rehabilitated the Kopa-Jopa, Marange-Zvipiripiri, Machongwe-Rusitu, Tanganda-Ngundu, Skyline-Chimanimani, Rusape-Nyanga, Honde Valley as well as the Birchenough to Chipinge Roads. Gravelling of the Machongwe-Rusitu-Vimba Road will be attended to.
“We are also developing Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences so that like every province, there is also a State university in this province. Since we want to develop our own country, all these universities have a bias towards science, technology and innovation.
“We have communication centres throughout the country so that our people can access information and learn how to use ICTs. That is crucial in the modern world.”
Turning to the August 23 harmonised elections, President Mnangagwa said the revolutionary party launched its elections campaign in Chipinge on June 24.
“The sun rises in the east, hence the decision to launch the harmonised elections campaign in Chipinge. The whole country congregated in Chipinge for the launch so that there would be light throughout the country.
“We launched our campaign in this province because a lot of heroes and heroines hail from here. The party’s national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the first female chairman of our party, hails from this province. The first chairman of the party, Cde Herbert Chitepo, also hailed from Manicaland, as well as the first president, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.
“A lot of our late national heroes also hailed from this province, including the late Chief Rekayi Tangwena, Cdes Maurice Nyagumbo, Moven Mahachi, Edgar Tekere, Motion Malianga, Washington Malianga, Willard Duri, William Ndangana, Kumbirai Kangai, Ellen Gwaradzimba and many others.
“I mentioned these names for everyone to realise that we have so many heroes and heroines who came from this province,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “Even during the First Chimurenga, we have heroes like Chingaire Makoni who were beheaded and had their skulls taken to the United Kingdom.
“You can see how Manicaland is a revolutionary province. If the present generation fails to vote for Zanu PF, you would have betrayed the heroes and heroines from this province.
“Manicaland was the gateway to Zanla bases in Mozambique and contributed a lot of freedom fighters who wedged the liberation struggle. The locals provided both material and social support to the freedom fighters.
“Manicaland was the water in which the fish survived and through that we were able to conquer British imperialism. We should not forget that.”
“This province is synonymous with heroism and revolution. We are addressing this rally in the month of August, a month we hold in high esteem as we commemorate our heroes, both living and fallen. We are also conducting our harmonised elections in August, the month of heroes,” said President Mnangagwa.
