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“The success of this project will no doubt provide the necessary impetus for the development of our economy, which has been crippled by the power deficit and illegal sanctions,” said President Mugabe.
He said spin-off benefits of the project included employment creation, construction of social amenities, infrastructure develop-ment and expansion of agriculture through fertiliser production.
“All these benefits will start here in Matabeleland and cascade to other parts of the country,” said President Mugabe.
“It is only innovation such as this that can pull the country out of the woods in the face of illegal sanctions and limited lines of credit. It is indeed high time that we have a paradigm shift in our approach to development and realised that the traditional way of financing such projects from the fiscus loans is not feasible at the moment.”
The President said such initiatives were attractive, as technical partners would come as investors and not contractors, thereby bringing foreign direct investment accompanied by the necessary technology and skills to ensure that they guarantee the performance of investment.
“It is therefore important to note that these alternative funding models are based on wealth creation and don’t increase the country’s debt burden,” he said.
President Mugabe said such significant national projects required co-ordination from all ministries and departments.
He said it would be a shame if political bigotry stifled such important initiatives.
“We should rise above such naivety and pull together when it comes to achieving national development and safeguarding our national interests,” said President Mugabe.
He said the Minister of Defence had extended his appreciation to the ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Water Resources Management and Development and Mines and Mining Development for working together, although it presented conflict of interests for the ministries.
“Where our ministry policies are at variance and appear to jeopardise this project, it is the interests of the project that remain paramount.
“Of course it is expected that the project should comply with all regulations, especially to safeguard the environment. In this regard, it is important to strike a balance between environmental protection and national interests of overall national development, such that at the end the project benefits are realised with minimum damage to the eco-system,” he said.
The President extended his appreciation to China for being an all weather friend to Zimbabwe, saying the project cemented further the friendship and paved way for more beneficiary economic cooperation between the two countries.
Reading a speech on behalf of Minister Mnangagwa, the Minister of State for State Security in the President’s Office, Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, said any event that threatened the growth of any sector of the economy jeopardised national security.
“Any process which does not contribute to securing these interests will naturally constitute a threat and would obviously provoke a response from the Ministry of Defence, whether benign or otherwise,” said Minister Mnangagwa.
He said the development of other sectors of the economy depended on the adequate supply of power to the extent that even well meaning investors have been hesitant to invest in the country.
The acting Minister of Mines and Mining Development, who is also the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Francis Nhema said the project would be a timely boost.
He said it was coming at a time when the energy sector was hugely depressed due to high demand for electricity, which is central to industrial development of any economy.
Chinese Ambassador Mr Lin Lin said next year, China would increase its cooperation with developing countries including Zimbabwe to achieve national benefit.
The chairman of the China Africa Sunlight Energy, Mr Wang Xinjia, said he foresaw unprecedented levels of development in Matabeleland North and the whole of Zimbabwe due to the project.
Online Reporter