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Two irrigation schemes have been commissioned in Matabeleland South province following rehabilitation by Government. The schemes, which had been lying idle for years, were revived using proceeds from the Community Share Ownership Scheme under the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme. Guyu-Chelesa and Sukwi irrigation schemes had been neglected because of damaged canals and constant breakdown of engines.
Matabeleland South Governor and Resident Minister Cde Angeline Masuku said the two irrigation schemes should have been rehabilitated by the Government in 2011 under the Public Sector Investment Programme but that was not done because the Minister of Finance Mr Tendai Biti did not release the funds.
“The two irrigation schemes failed to get funding as the Finance Ministry is headed by someone who has no vision for development and does not have the people at heart,” said Governor Masuku, while commissioning the schemes on Tuesday.
The irrigation schemes were saved by the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Scheme. Under the Community Share Ownership Schemes, companies that operate in a particular community are required to give shareholding to the community as well as seed money to fund community projects in that area.
Since its formation last year, the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Scheme has also undertaken and completed the refurbishment of Matape and Sitezi clinics while the construction of Silikwe Clinic is almost complete.
This has all been possible because of the visionary indigenisation and economic empowerment programme conceived and promoted by the Zanu-PF side in the inclusive Government.
Besides ensuring that the communities, in which mining and other companies operate and exploit the natural resources in those areas, benefit from the exploitation of their natural resources, the indigenisation programme has also worked as a sanction buster.
Given that the country is reeling under the crippling economic sanctions invited by Mr Biti’s MDC-T party, the proceeds from the Community Share Ownership Schemes have come to the rescue of several projects under the Public Sector Investment Programmes.
As shown in its election manifesto for the 31 July harmonised polls, Zanu-PF has always been about tangibles.
After delivering the land to the people from the year 2000, the revolutionary party is now gunning to economically empower Zimbabweans. It took the majority of the new farmers a decade to start earning decent money from the use of their allocated plots.
But a decade of toiling for empowerment in which you are establishing yourself as your own boss is tolerable because the future looks bright.
The land is a heritage and an infinite resource that will always be there. What empowerment beats the ownership of land?
It is clear that Zanu-PF’s programmes are people-centred. The resuscitation of the Guyu-Chelesa and Sukwi irrigation schemes bears testimony to this.
Agriculture is at the centre of our economy and drives our economy hence the importance that Zanu-PF attaches to issues to do with land and farming. The revival of the two irrigation schemes clearly dove-tails into the Zanu-PF thrust.
Governor Masuku is justified to remark that the two irrigation schemes were saved by President Mugabe through the indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes that he espouses.
“We are happy that our President vowed that development will not be impeded by the imposition of sanctions by the Western countries, which want to see a regime change in our country,” she said.
There should be no going back on the indigenisation and empowerment programme just as the land reform has been constitutionally made irreversible because these are programmes that benefit the people.
We hope the electorate is taking note of the way the community share ownership schemes and the land reform are reshaping our country.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter