adminNduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
MATABELELAND North Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Cain Mathema yesterday urged youths to prioritise education to honour President Mugabe’s legacy as he celebrates his 91st birthday on the 21st of this month.
The province hosts the 21st February Movement celebrations on February 28 in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
Cde Mathema said all was set from both the government side and Zanu-PF side for the hosting of the celebrations that come after the President’s election as African Union (AU) chairperson last week.
“We will be celebrating that the President is chairman of the African Union and you will also remember that he is the Sadc chairperson. We’re also celebrating his birthday after the very successful holding of the 6th Zanu-PF National People’s Congress,” said Cde Mathema.
“His election as AU chairperson shows that he has respect of Africa and all over the world. We’re celebrating the whole person, we’re celebrating the whole visionary and if we’re celebrating that, we’re encouraging the youth to emulate him, to understand who he is, how principled he is, what a revolutionary he is.”
Cde Mathema said President Mugabe led the country to Independence, formed a government and implemented successful policies in all sectors including education.
“I only hope that our youth will also understand how important it is to go to school. Our youth league has to be led by highly professional and educated people. That’s what’s expected otherwise if we didn’t expect that, we wouldn’t say we’re celebrating the President and his achievements,” he said.
“One of his greatest achievements as a person was to study for seven degrees, actual studying and not given honorary degrees by universities. He actually went to school and studied, we therefore expect youths to emulate that.
“Zimbabwe is living in a very complex world, a complex world that needs a highly educated and learned youth who must aim high. Our enemies are too sophisticated and therefore, if you don’t have the training, there isn’t much the youth will ever do because we’re looking at the future, who are going to be leaders tomorrow, how much of President Mugabe have they learnt and emulated?”
Cde Mathema said President Mugabe became a national leader during the liberation struggle because of his sound educational background.
He said the youth needed to be educated so that they provide educated councillors right up to parliamentarians from where they would be appointed as ministers.
“Our results in Matabeleland North weren’t that good and we don’t want that. We want a foundation for our children based on strong education so there’s need for serious improvement. Education is one of the President’s strong passions,” said Cde Mathema.
“In Matabeleland North, we’ve a situation in Tsholotsho where pupils drop out of school to cross to South Africa to live in shacks. We don’t want that, we know the South African economy has always been strong but we want our children to go there at least as qualified personnel after acquiring education.”
Cde Mathema said the local authorities needed to show President Mugabe’s achievements in the province through service delivery.
He called for a shift of focus on the local authorities to explore various business opportunities that would bring development to their constituencies.
Online Reporter