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The initiative comes at a time when there is raging debate around the development of rural communities in Zimbabwe, with some provinces feeling that they are not getting a fair share of the national cake.President Mugabe officially launched the scheme at Hwange Colliery Stadium where chiefs and thousands of people from the seven districts in the province were gathered.
Nine mining companies operating in Matabeleland North province pledged to contribute a combined $16, 5 million as seed money under the CSOS/T and presented a cheque of $10 million which is part of the seed money to President Mugabe at the launch in what is regarded as yet another milestone in the country’s quest to empower rural communities.
The companies that are participating in the Matabeleland North CSOS/T are Hwange Colliery Company, Makomo Resources, Chibondo Mine, South Mining, Hwange Coal Gassification, China Sunlight Africa, Pretoria Portland Cement, Liberation Mining and New Dawn Mining.
The provinces’ optimism was captured in the sentiments of the chiefs, who, in separate interviews said the empowerment initiative was set to transform the development history of the region.
“We are so fascinated with this development as a province. The scheme was actually long overdue. Development projects are there and we look forward to working with local authorities to upgrade our districts,” said Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi District who is also the deputy president of the Chiefs’ Council.
Chief Pashu of Binga said although no natural resource was being exploited in his district, he remained hopeful that some funding through the CSOS/T would be set aside for them.
“What has happened here is very significant. We believe we will be assisted at national level to develop our district as well. Binga is a dry place. We need more water sources, schools, clinics and rehabilitation of roads,” said Chief Pashu.
Newly installed and youthful Chief Mabhikwa from Lupane said he expected the scheme to reduce the burden on the Treasury, especially in financing capital projects.
“I think the CSOS/T will help in fast tracking infrastructure development in Lupane, which is the provincial capital. There are a lot of incomplete projects there and at the moment Lupane is not what it should be as the capital of Matabeleland North,” said Chief Mabhikwa.
The National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (NIEEB) chief executive officer Mr Wilson Gwatiringa said the CSOS/T was a remarkable success story and evidence of the Government’s sensitivity to communities’ development needs.
“The launch of the CSOS/T here in Hwange heralds the beginning of a broad based empowerment of Zimbabweans in this part of the country. The essence of this event is that people from Matabeleland North will now be able to implement their development projects according to their own priorities,” said Mr Gwatiringa.
“The project trusts would be run by the local leadership and their local authorities who know and understand what is important for their people.”
Mr Gwatiringa said NIEEB had already rolled out a training programme of capacitating communities on how to run the schemes effectively.
“Capacity building is essential if the trusts are to achieve the desired results. We have already done that in communities where the trusts have been launched. We will also oversee the implementation of the projects and give guidance,” he said.
Mr Gwatiringa urged the trusts’ leaders to ensure that what they do promotes attainment of set objectives of uplifting the standards of living in the community.
He said the trusts must be run like a business enterprise with the view of making them graduate into income generating projects that would cater for different disadvantaged groups such as the disabled, women and the youth.
“At the end of the day the trusts should not be there for expenditure but must create employment and generate money,” said Mr Gwatiringa.
Matabeleland North is the fifth province where communities are benefiting directly from the exploitation of natural resources in their areas. The other provinces are Matabeleland South, Midlands, Mashonaland West and Manicaland. The trusts in other provinces are already being successfully implemented.
While districts such as Tsholotsho, Nkayi and Binga did not have companies that exploit natural resources in their area, their community trusts were also launched on Thursday.
The Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere said the trusts would receive seed money from the national equalisation fund as soon as possible so that the districts do not lag behind other districts in the province.
President Mugabe has also pledged Government commitment towards fostering equitable development in all provinces.The President has dispelled the notion that Government was sidelining certain provinces at the expense of others.
During her tour of Binga at the weekend Vice President Joice Mujuru also committed herself to ensuring that development was fast tracked in remote communities and said the CSOS/T was one of the appropriate response strategies.
Under the CSOS/T companies operating in a given area cede 10 percent shares to communities they are operating in. The communities then use proceeds from their shares to fund development projects such as building schools, clinics, construction of roads or bridges.
In Shurugwi and Zvishavane in the Midlands province, some of the projects being implemented under CSOS/T are nearing completion.
Online Reporter