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Tawanda Museve
President Mugabe’s state visit to China is beaming with great potential that is set to rock Matabeleland North province with great leaps of economic growth, never witnessed since time immemorial. Already, the same government led by President Mugabe has granted the resort town of Victoria Falls the sole status of holding high profile conferences with the latest having been the Sadc summit. Government official reports have it that works towards the establishment of a permanent state of the art conference house is also on the cards.
Notwithstanding that, work on the magnificent Victoria Falls International Airport is reportedly on the 70 percent mark with its completion set to increase air traffic flow into the resort town, naturally translating into increased economic activity following a decade long lull of tourism activity.
As if this not enough, about 160km from Victoria Falls, the otherwise dull rural community of Gwayi, whose only visible economic activity amongst the rural citizens is pottery artifacts that dots the road, massive infrastructure on the energy, power and water sectors beckons. All thanks to President Mugabe’s visit to China and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Socio-Economic Transformation blue-print.
According to reports from China, the long awaited completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is set to be finally a reality following numerous false starts. The Gwayi-Shangani Dam master plan includes five star hotels and a golf course overlooking the dam. There is also to be a game park. An agricultural green belt is set to be created along the water pipeline to Bulawayo.
In addition media reports revealed that a consortium of private Zimbabweans and Chinese companies, China Africa Sunlight Energy (Caseco) are to construct a 600 megawatt thermal power station in Gwayi, which is set to be completed by 2017 and a coal mine. This is to run concurrently with the construction of the Gwayi-Insukamini Power Station transmission line. The deal is estimated at about $2 billion.
Such opportunities therefore require the leadership of Matabeleland North province to pull together in a bid to ensure that its rural citizens are the major beneficiaries of the economic activities the projects present. The rural citizens of Gwayi should be given first preference in all employment opportunities that require unskilled labour and this needs an astute leadership. Hope is pinned on the incumbent Zanu-PF House of Assembly representatives to take the job opportunities that the aforementioned projects present to each and every homestead of Gwayi and larger Lupane. This is one masterstroke act that will make them win the 2018 elections before they are even held.
Already, Lupane is faced with challenges of relocating villagers living within periphery of the Bubi Dam. These have got to be moved. The completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam is also to bring its challenges. But the lessons drawn from Chingwizi in Masvingo should be a free lesson for Cde Cain Mathema, Provincial Affairs Minister for Matabeleland North, and his whole team.
At this juncture Cde Mathema and his team should be making presentations to government and well-wishers on the budget and plans of averting similar occurrences such as those that happened in Chingwizi.
The same applies to the construction of the thermal power, coal mine and the transmission lines within the same area. Now is the time the Zanu-PF leadership of Matabeleland North province to engage the investors with the sole aim of protecting the interests of the villagers in which these projects are to be established.
Unlike during the colonial era where villagers were displaced to pave way for development and dumped in deep forests, Independence means the involvement of villagers in the economic activities that have visited their areas.
Whether schooled or not once investment visits an area it should to the inhabitants of the area translate into improved living standards that will always include a monthly living allowance. Employment benefits should be regarded as extras.
Online Reporter