Lupane reaps development benefits
THE electorate in Lupane, Matabeleland North, has been urged to vote for the ruling Zanu PF party, which is uplifting people’s living standards in the province through various development projects.
The projects include construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital and the Lake GwayiShangani that is expected to eliminate water challenges in Bulawayo and turn the province into a greenbelt.
Matabeleland North has reaped benefits in terms of development in the last five years courtesy of President Mnangagwa who has vowed to uplift people’s livelihoods in the province that has previously been regarded as marginalised and lagging behind.
The Second Republic has pushed the Government to spearhead equitable and inclusive development across the country as he seeks to ensure ‘no one and no place is left behind’
Lupane, the provincial capital of Matabeleland North, is growing in leaps and bounds as the Second Republic continues to accelerate the implementation of transformative infrastructural development projects.
Lupane is a rural semi-arid area with a growing population and some infrastructural expansion after it was accorded the capital status of the province in 1999.
However, under the Second Republic, Lupane has recorded transformative growth as evidenced by the implementation of new infrastructural projects in addition to existing ones, which had stalled for years due to a lack of funding.
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THE Government working with Environmental Management Authority (EMA) have engaged traditional leaders to stop land degradation, deforestation and mismanagement of wetlands.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and EMA pressed the traditional leaders, through the Chiefs Council, to take a bigger role in safeguarding natural resources in their chiefdoms.
Rural and urban areas have been negatively impacted by the current state of waste management.
Of late, Zimbabwe has become one of the huge trash cans and EMA and the Ministry now see the Chiefs Council as a major stakeholder, going forward.
Permanent Secretary for Environment, Wildlife and Climate Professor Prosper Matondi emphasised the importance of the traditional leadership in the conservation of natural resources.
“This council is a critical and unique component of our development agenda and society, both from a technical standing and as cultural enrichment to our decisions and actions as a country. Waste management remains a point of concern in the country however, we are excited that through the visionary leadership of our President, we are on a positive trajectory towards finding lasting solutions to achieve sustainable waste management.’’
Prof Matondi promised to work better with traditional leaders. The Second Republic in its second term wants to do things differently. If there are things we have not done in the last five years, we are going to take corrective measures to ensure that we will put on course the necessary ingredients for us to be able to strengthen the relationship with our traditional leadership,” he said.
Government arms need to align themselves with the traditional heads and chiefs. Traditional leaders are the custodians of our natural resources.
There must exist a symbiotic relationship between traditional leaders, EMA and the ministry to achieve the goals.
“Much needed awareness of our communities can be easily achieved by our traditional leaders if there is collaboration between traditional chiefs, the ministry and EMA. Traditional leaders have a mechanism of disseminating information faster than any social media,” he said.
Prof Matondi emphasised the importance of natural resources, especially wetlands.
“Many things have broken down in our nation. We are struggling to protect 355 000 hectares of wetlands that provide a vital resource for our nation.”
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