The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Monday, December 2, 1991 — A Trustee of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project Fund, Alderman Mike Constandinos, expressed disappointment with the Minister of Energy and Water Development, Cde Herbert Ushewokunze, for changing his stance vis-a—vis Government support for the water project.

Ald Constandinos said yesterday that he was disappointed when he read the minister’s statement on Saturday that the project had not been accorded national status by the Government.

“I was very disappointed that the minister made a U-turn in his support for the project and this has dampened the spirit of the people who had been told that the Government was backing the scheme,’’ he said.

Alderman Constandinos said that he believed the Government was going to adopt the project as a national issue as it was enjoying Government moral support.

Cde Ushewokunze said a week ago that the Government regarded the Zambezi Water Project as a national issue. He said that this would make it easier for the project to get external assistance.

On Friday, the minister retracted to his statement and said that the MZWP had not been adopted as a national project and that the Government had several other options to choose from.

Ald Constandinos told Pelandaba residents during their annual meeting that five foreign countries had promised assistance for the project but can only negotiate at a government to government level.