MINISTERS OF STATE SPEAK OUT Focus to be on development using resources in provinces

Bridge because maintaining the existing one costs $40 million while construction of a new one costs $35 million,” she said.

“I also want to see the construction of Manicaland State University and its satellite centres. Health will also be promoted through infrastructure development. Of immediate priority is Mabvazuva polyclinic in Makoni which requires about $360 000. We also want to give our tourism attraction centres a facelift.”

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima said priorities would be in different sectors.

“The Provincial Affairs Minister now has new responsibilities, which involve ensuring that devolution takes place from a legislative point of view as well as the economic activities that contribute to the GDP of the country,” he said.

“To grow our GDP as Midlands, we are luck that we are endowed with rich mineral resources which include diamonds, gold, platinum, coal, chrome, emeralds and lithium. We have to look at how best we can grow the mining sector in an inclusive manner. Artisanal miners have to be capacitated so that they grow and contribute to the GDP.

“They should collaborate with big mining companies and get the necessary technical expertise to be professional,” he said.

Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Apollonia Munzverengi said the province would focus mainly on agriculture and mining for development.

“Mashonaland East province is dominated by agriculture but there are mining activities in areas such as Acturus, Goromonzi, Mutawatawa and Mutoko,” she said.

“We have to come up with viable activities to develop the province using these two key areas. As someone taking over, I need to have an insight into what is taking place in the province. I do that through meeting heads of department. They will give me reports of what they have been doing and their annual plans,” she said

“I will get to know what projects they have implemented and what is still outstanding. I will also come up with my input. For example, it is not a secret that this is year there is a possibility of low rainfall and this means the abundant water bodies in the provinces have to be fully utilised such that we irrigate our crops to have sufficient food.”

Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo said all programmes in the province should be completed within set timelines.

“We have got our projects like the GwayiShangani Dam, the Bulawayo-Nkayi and the Bulawayo- Tsholotsho Road, among others,” he said.

“We are checking on how far those have gone and push them so that by the end of December they should be able to impact positively on the lives of the people in the province,” he said.

“In terms of devolution, if it comes into practice, it will help us a lot as we have got our mines, animals and tourist attraction centres. These we will use to develop ourselves and the good thing is we will be running most of these projects on our own. We also have the methane gas project coming in Lupane and this will go a long a way in uplifting the living standards of our people.”

Under devolution, Harare Metropolitan would be Zimbabwe’s ICT nerve centre, while Bulawayo Metropolitan would become the country’s industrial recently.

Manicaland province would be the diamond beneficiation centre, with Midlands being the iron and steel value-chain beneficiation centre, he said.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira said focus would be on poverty eradication using resources in the province.

“We have a strong mining background, a lot of livestock and dams in the province,” he said.

“We will focus on irrigation, creating employment and value addition to the many products that come out of the province. Eyes will be on the Tugwi-Mukosi project as it is expected to take the province to another level. Experts are working on the master plan. Once that is done that’s when we will have a clear picture of what goes where. There will be tourism, agricultural and recreational activities.”

Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube said: “There are a lot of projects and programmes in the pipeline but priorities have to come from the people. The people of Bulawayo are key in this whole issue of development. My policy is there is nothing I can do without the people. They are going to come up with their own priorities and my role will be to facilitate and adhere to the policies. I am going to engage them so that we fail together or succeed together. Failure though is not an option.”

Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Monica Mavhunga said she would be able to comment after “completing the hand-over take over process.”

Harare is yet to have a Minister of State for Provincial Affairs. hub, said President Mnangagwa THE First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has expressed concern over the deaths of people from cholera when the disease is preventable and treatable.

Speaking to journalists soon after visiting one of the cholera treatment camps at Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare yesterday, Amai Mnangagwa said it was sad that the spread of the disease was a result of poor hygiene practices.

“Loss of life is not a desirable occurrence especially when what is causing it is totally preventable and treatable. Most of the issues are coming from us; the way we carry ourselves, the way we behave in terms of handling food and water,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

She said people should always ensure that their homes are clean, food they eat is well cooked and their families practice good hygiene standards to curb water and food borne diseases.

The First Lady said while the authorities had a role to play in providing basic amenities especially in densely populated areas such as proper sanitation facilities, clean water and collection of garbage, individuals must play their role.

“I want to encourage people that when they are buying fruits and vegetables, they clean them thoroughly,” she said.

She expressed concern over some settlements, which she said were overcrowded leading to the further spread of diseases like cholera.

Amai Mnangagwa said to effectively contain the outbreak, people should work together and coordinate efforts because this was not solely a Government problem.

“I am also saying on this one we have our children in the diaspora. They should also come and help us here in Zimbabwe. This is your country. Come back home and help. You will see there will be good development to your country and the Zimbabwe we want all,” she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo commended the First Lady’s gesture to visit the cholera treatment site saying it showed commitment and motherly love.

“We are taking drastic action to ensure that we get rid of the diseases as quickly as possible. So I am so happy when you talk about a clean Zimbabwe. We want to make Zimbabwe clean, so there is no one better than yourself and His Excellency leading us to ensure that all our cities and where we live remains clean,” said Dr Moyo.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima also commended the First Lady’s efforts.

He said the Ministry would ensure that all schools had safe and adequate water supplies and proper sanitation facilities.

“As for now we have not lost any pupil from our schools but there are some parents of children in our schools who have died,” he said.