Defiant companies warned

Kamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau Chief
PRESIDENT Mugabe has warned companies that are unwilling to participate in the government initiated community share ownership trust programmes saying they risked facing the wrath of the law.
Community share ownership schemes are a brainchild of President Mugabe designed to develop rural communities through funds availed by companies operating in those areas.

Addressing chiefs at their annual conference in Gweru on Thursday, the President said government was happy with the development that has taken place in areas where companies put money into community trusts.

He, however, said Zimbabwe does not expect companies to make super profits at the expense of people in communities they operate in.

“I am happy that in different places money which we said was compelled to come from mining companies, which you use as community trusts, was put in community trusts for development. Some have already used them; they now have green lands and such other things, that is what they chose. Some have constructed clinics and schools as they felt it was the best way to develop their areas at the time. This is what we want to happen everywhere.

“But chiefs are complaining that there are certain companies that are hesitant or unwilling to participate in these community trust programmes. We want to look at province by province which companies are following our instructions.

“It is actually in our law to have these community trusts, we need our 10 percent. We will also look at companies that are refusing to comply. We can’t be a country that has companies that just want to make profits only, which just want to fill their tummies, make their top management happy. Look at these companies which claim they can’t afford to do it, look at their management; they have many cars, car for the husband and for the wife as well. This is money which is supposed to help make people’s lives better,” said President Mugabe.
He said the government will play its part from its annual budget in developing schools and hospitals.

“Yes, these are our programmes but we are saying in rural communities part of the work should be done by the money coming from companies that operate in those areas,” he said.

President Mugabe said through community trusts, districts have managed to develop their roads.

He said the government was aware that some areas do not have mining companies to help them develop.

“Government will play its part like I said. Roads are killing our people because they are not wide enough. We partnered China to help in the dualisation of our highways. As government we still have a lot of work in increasing our clinics and hospitals and reduce the distance between home and the nearest health institution.

“We started the programme of constructing a district hospital. We constructed two or three hospitals for each district in Midlands, Matabeleland South and North but unfortunately funds ran out before we could complete the project. We intend to resume with this project. Promoting good health is part of the objectives of our economic blueprint, Zim-Asset,” said the President.

He said Zimbabweans were hardworking and enduring people and were known as such throughout the world.

In 1980, he said, Zimbabweans took it upon themselves to construct schools in rural communities and had constructed many schools within a short period.

President Mugabe expressed dismay at the fact that some areas where schools did not have teachers for local languages.

“We built schools in previously neglected areas like Binga. We had challenges of getting teachers who could teach Tonga and we approached then Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda who helped us with books for that language. If we hear that there are children being taught in a language that is not their mother tongue; we don’t want to hear that. We worked very hard to improve our education system,” he said.