adminSpeaking at a belated end of year party for senior officers in the Zimbabwe Prison Service on Saturday, the Governor and Resident Minister for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Cde Cain Mathema, said plans were at an advanced stage to provide stands for civil servants.
“The project is not only meant for civil servants, but will benefit everyone, who is employed in the public service, which includes those working for parastatals,” said Governor Mathema.
He could, however, not be drawn to say when the project would be launched and where the stands would be located.
Governor Mathema implored financial institutions to provide mortgage loans so that the beneficiaries of the stands are able to develop and realise their dreams of being owners of houses.
The Governor, who is also the Zanu-PF deputy national spokesperson, said the revolutionary party would not accept a constitution where there are disagreements among the parties to the Global Political Agreement.
“We can not talk of a referendum where there is no constitution. The document has to reflect the people’s views in order for it to be accepted by Zanu-PF.
“Whether there is a constitution or not let us brace ourselves for elections this year. They are definitely going to held,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, the ZPS Officer Commanding Matabeleland Region, Senior Assistant Commissioner Claydon James Seular said accommodation remains a challenge not only to the Matabeleland region, but also to the whole country.
“To mitigate this, the Government has long approved the construction of a low-cost housing model presented by the Commissioner of Prisons, Retired Major General Paradzai Zimondi, but we could not move an inch owing to financial challenges,” he said.
He thanked Governor Mathema for the pledge to allocate stands to prison officers.
Snr Asst Com Seular said uniforms is one of the major challenges facing the organisa-tion adding that the Rtd Maj Gen Zimondi was making all efforts possible to ensure that all officers get sufficient uniforms.
He said the Commissioner remained keenly aware of the need to improve conditions of service for prison officers noting that there has been an improvement in transport, which has been a perennial challenge.
Two more security vehicles for Binga and Beitbridge Prisons were availed together with a staff bus early last year.
“As you are aware, our organisation is playing a significant role in the United Nations peacekeeping missions and this has seen some officers being deployed in Liberia, Darfur and Haiti to mention but a few.
“In these missions officers are selected on the basis of their performance, ability and area of specialty. I am happy that the Commissioner recently introduced a transparent criterion for one to be considered for peacekeeping missions.
“One is supposed to be a holder of a relevant degree to qualify for the UN missions. So I urge you to constantly upgrade yourselves academically so that you keep pace with the ever changing times,” said Snr Asst Com Seular.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu