The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Friday, September 8, 1967 — The government was urged yesterday to spend £5 000 000 a year for the next 10 years to develop the country’s water resources — “the liquid gold and lifeblood of Rhodesia”.

The call was made by Mr HJ Quinton, chairman of the Sabi-Limpopo Authority, when he opened the 53rd annual Bulawayo Agricultural Show.

“The new Rhodesia calls for fresh, bolder and broader thinking to build the economy of a new independent state”, he said.

The real challenge facing Rhodesians was the population growth and whether the country’s economic growth could keep pace with it. Agriculture needed high skills and business acumen to achieve volume and quality production at competitive prices. This was the key to a sound immigration policy.

Referring to recent droughts in Matabeleland, he warned that the frequent movement of vast herds of cattle from one end of the country to the other could not lead to stability.

Mr Quinton said: “This must be stopped now — by adequate water development”.

Piped water supplies in vast ranching areas were not outside the bounds of sound economics and were at present under detailed study.

Paying tribute to the Matabeleland Development Council and to the government for making funds available, he said the country could not afford to take action only after a crisis.

“During the past year Government has made available over £5 000 000 for the harnessing and utilisation of the country’s water resources, and this is a step in the right direction”, he said.

“Water is the very lifeblood of Rhodesia and has been referred to on numerous occasions as liquid gold”.