Companies must prioritise locals on jobs and business opportunities

ZANU-PF District Coordinating Committee chair for Hwange Cde Mathew Muleya has reiterated the call for companies and organisations to prioritise locals on job and business opportunities.

He was speaking in Matetsi where the revolutionary party on Sunday held a thank you rally to pay gratitude to the party supporters and voters for voting the party in last year’s harmonised elections.

In Matetsi ward 1, there were 2 498 registered voters and half of them turned up to cast their votes with 1 080 staying away.

Of those that voted only 250 voted the opposition parties as President Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF garnered 1 148 votes, the party’s National Assembly candidate Cde Pilani Moyo got 1 142 and Cllr Vulindlela Mhlanga Gasela got 1 150 votes to retain the seat.

The party’s Secretary General Dr Obert Mpofu on Sunday held a thank you rally where thousands of people gathered.

Speaking earlier, Cde Muleya said the calling for locals to be prioritised speaks to the Second Republic’s devolution and decentralisation agenda as well as President Mnangagwa’s leaving noone and no place behind and Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabaninilo philosophy.

“There have been concerns by people in various communities especially in Matabeleland North about importation of labour from other provinces at the expense of locals.

Locals have spoken with concern at different fora calling on authorities to help address the issue.

“When we talk about tourism we cannot ignore Hwange and Matabeleland North. When we talk of energy you cannot leave out Hwange but when you look at the boards for these sectors they have no representation from Hwange or the province.

“The President has spent time in the province at Unit 7 and 8, Kamativi, Gwayi Shangani and others and our youth now have job opportunities. We also want companies to avail opportunities for jobs and contracts to locals, that is not tribalism, its empowerment,” said Cde