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Kamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Minister of State Responsible for Provincial Affairs in Midlands, Cde Jason Machaya, has said he will work towards restoring the province as the country’s economic hub by reviving industry, agriculture and infrastructure. In an interview, Cde Machaya said most of the country’s big industries were performing below capacity due to different challenges and a number of them like Sable Chemicals, NewZim Steel, Bata Shoe Company, Zimasco, Shabanie Mine and ZimAlloys were in the Midlands.
Cde Machaya said farmers in the province also had a role to play in boosting the country’s food security.
“We are the industrial hub of the country as we have a number of the big industries in the province. These include NewZim Steel, formerly Ziscosteel, Sable Chemical Industries, Shabanie, ZimAlloys, Zimasco and Bata Shoe Company, among others. All companies are performing below capacity due to varied challenges, liquidity being one of them.
I intend to work with stakeholders in making sure that our voice as a province is heard and attract the attention of the Government and other private players in reviving our industry,” he said.
“Companies like Shabanie should be back on track. They need recapitalisation.”
Cde Machaya said he and his team would be guided by the Government’s Zimbabwe Programme for Social Economic Transformation (Zimpset) programme.
He said the province was well-positioned to turn around the economy, given natural resources such as minerals found in the province.
“It should be back to business as our province is sitting on the Great Dyke.
“We should therefore seek to get our share of the national cake as a province. The provincial leadership will need to mobilise and educate people on Government programmes so that they are not left out. We will see how best we can access Government assistance through line ministries as we seek to revive our economy as a province first, then country,” said Cde Machaya.
Cde Machaya, who is the province’s former Governor, said he remained committed to serving the people of the Midlands as always.
He said the Zanu-PF-led Government would continue to work towards improving the welfare of teachers and pupils in rural areas by constructing more schools and other facilities especially in resettlement areas.
“We built a number of schools since independence, including houses for teachers. The Government is taking up the challenge to improve the welfare of teachers in the province and elsewhere. It will also continue working towards improving the road infrastructure as well as other social amenities in remote parts of the province,” said Cde Machaya.
He said the Government would continue empowering communities through the Community Share Ownership Scheme/Trust where rural communities were drawing financial benefits from mining concerns operating in their areas.
He said the successful scheme that has brought overnight development to Zvishavane and Shurugwi rural communities would be spread to other parts of the province that do not have big industries.
“We have a community trust that was set up so that all districts benefit under this scheme. We expect districts like Kwekwe, Gokwe South and North, Chirumanzu and Gweru to benefit under the share ownership scheme.
“We are also an agricultural province. Our people should venture into cattle ranching and help rebuild the national herd. I am particularly happy with the breaking of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development into distinct departments headed by two deputy ministers.
We will benefit from this because the northern part of the province is into cropping while the southern part is into cattle ranching mainly. We also have mixed farming in areas like Kwekwe and Gweru. If we help our people realise the full potential and opportunities obtained in this sector, we will succeed in boosting the food security of the province and country,” said Cde Machaya.
He said farmers should work closely with Agritex officers and other agricultural experts in embracing farming methods that help them mitigate the effects of climate change and Global Warming.
“There is a need to harness water through construction of dams and water reservoirs. We would want more of our people to engage in irrigated farming to reduce hunger in communities. People in the Midlands should respond to every programme that the Government and the private sector will come up with to breathe life in agriculture. Such programmes in agriculture are likely to be hinged on irrigation farming as this is key to the country’s food security,” he said.
Online Reporter