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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
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HAVING grown up in a rural setting, Zanu-PF Gwanda North candidate Cde Lungisani Ncube is set on implementing the rural industrialisation drive in his area.
Cde Ncube (49) is one of 12 National Assembly candidates from Matabeleland South who will be representing Zanu-PF in the coming elections.
President Mnangagwa’s rural industrialisation programme which the ruling party’s candidate wants to tap into depends on an area’s endowments defining and driving industrial activity in a bid to stem rural-urban migration.
Guided by the Second Republic’s devolution focus, a key component of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which seek to ensure “no one and no place is left behind” in terms of development, Government is facilitating several socio-economic projects in different parts of the country, which are aimed at assisting communities to generate incomes and be self-sufficient.
The projects cover agricultural production — both animal and cropping — small to medium enterprise industry development, housing social amenities, road rehabilitation and construction, education and information communication technology, among others.
Government has already laid the preparatory groundwork for the transformation through establishing tertiary institutions, including vocational training centres in rural areas and intensifying the rural electrification programme.
Cde Ncube said he feels his time to represent the party has come at an opportune moment.
“I was born in Bulawayo, but I grew up in rural Gwanda. Rural communities have in the past been behind when it comes to development and only recently have we seen a change under the capable leadership of President Mnangagwa.
The President’s rural industrialisation drive which is gathering momentum is what the country has always needed in order to improve the lives of the rural folk,” he said.
“I intend to run with this drive and bring the much needed development which we have long awaited. I have identified the major development areas which I intend to tackle.”
Cde Ncube said in line with the rural industrialisation drive he intends to develop the agricultural sector. He said due to the effects of climate change villagers are now struggling to record good yields due to poor rains.
Cde Ncube said a solution is needed as a matter of urgency as livelihoods of the rural folk are mainly dependent on farming.
He said he will lobby Government and bring various partners on board to ensure that more irrigation schemes, nutritional gardens and livestock production projects are introduced.
Cde Ncube said his constituency already has two major irrigation schemes, Makwe and Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme and there is need for the two projects to birth massive industrialisation activity in the area.
“Makwe and Mtshabezi Irrigation schemes have to be turned into major food sources. The schemes must support massive industrialisation activities such as a food processing which will create employment to many. The dams which are supplying the irrigation schemes can also support other projects such as fishery. There is also need for the youths to be trained so that they can play an active role in developing the agricultural sector,” he said.
Cde Ncube said he will bring diasporans on board so that they can invest in developing their homes areas.
He said he has already started lobbying members of the diaspora from the area.
Cde Ncube said community members must be instrumental in the development of key infrastructure in their areas. There is need for more schools and clinics to be constructed in his constituency. He said learners were still walking long distances to school while community members were walking long distances to reach health centres.
“I also want to improve key service delivery issues such as health, education, bridges, roads, electrification, internet connectivity, water supply among others,” he said.
Gwanda North constituency has three urban wards and 10 rural wards. Cde Ncube said there is need for an improved road network, improved water and sanitation services in the urban wards.
“In order to achieve these targets I need to work extra hard and the work has already started. We have to point people in the right direction so that they may see that their revolutionary gains are only safe if Zanu-PF is in power. People are in need of development and they can only get it under the leadership of the revolutionary party,” he said. —@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter