Chronicle Editor
Sandisiwe Gumbo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Midlands Province, Cde Owen Ncube, has called for an aggressive and inclusive development approach aimed at growing the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and spur the economy towards vision 2030.
He also urged stakeholders to put their hands on the deck in the fight against drug and substance abuse in the province and the country at large. In his address at the Midlands Special Province Co-ordination Meeting on Thursday, Minister Ncube outlined the development agenda for the province aligning with Vision 2030, a strategic plan set by the Second Republic to drive progress and prosperity in the country.
He said the province was supposed to build its progress on the various development projects implemented by the Second Republic some of which were through the disbursement of devolution funds.
“I call upon all of you to brace up for a rigorous approach to service delivery. His Excellency the President led the adoption and implementation of devolution and decentralisation as provided for in our Constitution. Resultantly, Central Government is releasing devolution funds to local authorities for infrastructure development.
“I am therefore proud to note that from 2018 to date of the 1 000 projects implemented in the Midlands Province 226 were devolution projects (173 completed and 53 ongoing),” he said.
Minister Ncube acknowledged the threat posed by drug and substance abuse among the youths and emphasised that the Government was fully aware of the issue and was taking steps to combat it. He highlighted the initiatives that were taken to raise awareness on the dangers of drug and substance abuse and provision of support systems for affected individuals.
“I am aware that the threat of drug and substance abuse is now an emerging disaster especially for our youths. Accordingly, the Government has directed that all provinces make deliberate efforts to fight this challenge through Drug and Substance Abuse Elimination Committees from provincial, district, ward to village level.”
He said the committees would be operationalised through the pillars of supply reduction, demand reduction, harm treatment and rehabilitation, community reintegration and psycho-social support, and also media and communication and resource mobilisation.
Minister Ncube said they were supposed to propel the province’s Gross Domestic Product in line with Vision 2030 and ensuring that no one and no place is left behind in the development agenda.
“We have been mandated to grow our Provincial Gross Domestic Product with a framework that leaves no one and no place behind. It is my task as your Minister of State for Provincial and Devolution to spearhead, co-ordinate, monitor and exercise oversight role as leader of the entire provincial Government machinery.”
The minister commended Government agencies for their efforts in implementing programmes aimed at realising the principles of an upper middle-income society by 2030. He highlighted the need to ensure that development initiatives were inclusive and emphasised the significance of growing the province within a framework that prioritises equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.
Online Reporter