adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
The First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe is next week expected to engage Bulawayo residents on how they can benefit from government’s programmes at a two- day Zim-Asset conference in the city. About 17 cabinet ministers have been invited to the crucial Indaba. The conference running under the theme “Consolidating Bulawayo’s Growth through Zim-Asset” is scheduled for next Friday and Saturday.
The Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo yesterday said more than 600 delegates would attend the event.
She said the conference is meant to give an oversight to the Bulawayo business community, residents and churches among other participants on ways they can benefit from the government’s projects.
“I’ve observed that most of Bulawayo residents aren’t well versed on government policies. They never get a chance to interact with government officials so we decided to invite 17 key ministries to engage the residents on ways of building the economy. The First Lady has been invited as our guest of honour,” she said.
Cde Moyo called on Bulawayo residents to attend the conference saying ministers that include Minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Walter Chidhakwa, Minister of Energy and Power Development Samuel Undenge, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, had confirmed their participation.
She said she had observed that most residents have a lot of questions regarding government policies but rarely get a platform to engage ministers.
“Business executives are the ones who always get a chance to engage government ministers.
‘‘This platform is for ordinary Bulawayo residents and we hope after the engagement they’ll understand how they can benefit from Zim-Asset programmes. There are Special Economic Zones that should be implemented but residents don’t know what these are,” said Moyo.
She said Bulawayo residents have a role to play in transforming the fortunes of the country hence the two-day engagement meeting.
Minister Moyo said she was excited by the positive response that the conference is getting from both companies and individuals.
Yesterday, POSB’s two Bulawayo branches donated 200 T-shirts and 50 cases of bottled water towards the conference while United Grain Company and United Milling Company’s director Davis Muhambi donated 300 T-shirts.
Choppies and ZITF company have also donated towards the same meeting.
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