The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke and Lovemore Kadzura
VICE President Kembo Mohadi says Zimbabweans have been resilient for a long time and will soon enjoy the fruits of the hard work that has been channelled towards the revival of the economy by the New Dispensation.
Speaking at a tour of infrastructure projects at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) on Wednesday, VP Mohadi said the country has managed to secure huge investments that are turning around its fortunes despite being under illegal sanctions.
“We are surviving under sanctions and they no longer mean anything to us. We have raked in new investments in the diamonds and platinum mining areas. These investments are big and will create employment. Besides this, they will also transfer the knowledge of technology to our people so that we can turnaround our economy. Zimbabweans should not be faint-hearted, we are in the right direction,” he said.
He said the battering that Government has taken on social media will not deter efforts to revive the country’s economy.
“They have realised that we are doing it without them and they want to bring us down. If you are doing nothing, people will say nothing; but if you are doing something, people will say something. If you are running, you are bound to tumble one way or the other; but that does not mean that is the end. We make mistakes like anybody else, but not on the human rights issue,” he said.
He also said Zanu PF has been trying to alleviate the plight of the people since the liberation war when the white regime was infringing on black people’s human rights.
“Eventually we took up arms and liberated ourselves. We were not doing this for any profit, there was no monetary consideration at all. We were voluntarily doing it to liberate our people. Now for someone to tell us today that we do not respect human rights is absurd. Now they have the guts to say we are violating human rights, where were they when human rights were being violated by the white men? We brought dignity to the people of Zimbabwe and we cannot be destroyers of that dignity,” said VP Mohadi.
The Vice President said Zimbabweans are the most educated people on the continent and should leverage on that to transform their lives.
He said universities are now producing 50 percent of the national requirement of Personal Protective Equipment, thus reducing the burden on Government.
“We tasked our universities to do some reverse engineering and within a very short space of time, nearly 50 percent of our national PPE requirements are now being churned from these institutions. Chinhoyi University of Technology has invented its our own ventilator, which has been certified and can be used.
“This is what universities are supposed to be doing, they should come up with research that enhances the economy of this country,” he said.
Vice President Mohadi also toured John Cowie Primary School in Rusape, where he said Government will ensure that all teachers receive training before schools reopen.
“Government decided to reopen schools for the 2020 examination classes on September 28 following an improvement on the Covid-19 situation in Zimbabwe.
“As schools reopen, we need to do everything possible to protect our learners, our teachers and the school communities. The virus remains out there to pounce if we let our guard down.
“All schools must be guided by the Standard Operation Procedures that Government has approved,” he said.
The VP added: “As you are aware, the reopening of schools has not received 10 percent consensus either here in Zimbabwe or globally.
“But for any nation to wait for a perfect situation when the virus is completely eradicated may mean waiting forever.
“Government on its part is ensuring that all teachers receive training before they return to school.
“Furthermore, Government will purchase all the PPE for public schools.”
