Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu in Gwanda
THE Zanu-PF Matabeleland South leadership has called on citizens to uphold peace before, during and after the upcoming Sadc Summit, which is being hosted by the country.
In an interview after a party Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman, Cde Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu called on the people of Matabeleland South to be vigilant and guard against those who may want to cause chaos.
He said hosting this year’s Sadc Summit is a significant milestone for the country and some misguided elements might seek to derail the achievement. The PCC held a meeting to discuss several issues, key among them, the need to uphold peace before, during and after the upcoming Sadc Summit, the ongoing drought relief programme and the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme.
“We are so excited that we successfully hosted the Sadc Industrialisation Week where delegates spoke highly of our hospitality. We therefore call for the peaceful environment to continue. We know that there are other elements who want to tarnish the country’s image and as province we say we will be vigilant.
“As the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial leadership, we preach peace as our Government is always preaching peace. Where there is peace there is development and as we all know, Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation. Let’s not allow external forces to derail us and disturb the peace that we have fought so hard to obtain and preserve,” he said.
Zimbabwe is set to host the Sadc Summit this month with President Mnangagwa set to assume the chairmanship of the bloc. This year’s summit will be held under the theme “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development towards an industrialised Sadc.”
Cde Ndlovu said during the meeting, the leadership also discussed the ongoing drought relief programme, which has been successfully rolled out in the province.“As the leadership, we also deliberated on the ongoing drought relief programme. The programme is going on well and it has brought much-needed relief to the communities. The programme is still ongoing as the President has declared that no one will die of hunger.
“Government has also upscaled the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme and it has benefited many communities in the province. The feedback we are getting is that people are pleased by these programmes that have been rolled out by Government to cushion communities against the effects of the El Nino- induced drought,” he said.
The Government will be providing 6,1 million rural communities with food aid until next year in March as most of the communities did not harvest anything due to the El Nino- induced drought. In urban areas, 1,6 million people will also receive the Government’s support.
Between now and the end of September, each member of the family will be entitled to 7,5 kg of maize but from October, the Government will increase the allocation by an additional kilogramme until next year in March. The first three-month distribution blitz, which started in May 2024 ended at the end of last month. The second phase scheduled for August to October 2024 is underway.—@DubeMatutu
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