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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo has urged parents and guardians struggling to pay university fees for their children to utilise the Presidential Scholarship programme as Government seeks to advance universal education.
The scholarship is targeting disadvantaged, but academically gifted students mainly from schools in remote districts.
Minister Moyo made the call while addressing Holiness Apostolic Church congregants during the Ordination Ceremony for Archbishop Mzamani Mpofu on Saturday in Inyathi, Bubi district.
He said Government is concerned over an increase in the number of girls becoming victims of early child marriages resulting in them dropping out of school.
“Children should not stay at home just because they don’t have money, yet they would have passed. Then the following year you will be asking the child why they aren’t getting married because you as a parent or guardian have failed to pay fees,” said Minister Moyo.
“In terms of scholarships, President Mnangagwa has scholarships, and when the children have passed take them to your MPs so that we facilitate that the children get scholarships.”
Minister Moyo’s call comes at a time when a red flag has been raised over some Apostolic faith sect churches practising child marriages and denying the girl child access to tertiary education.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), child marriage is a gross violation of children’s rights and robs girls of their childhood, preventing them from reaching their full potential resulting in increased poverty.
The practice has since worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has exposed girls to several harmful practices.
Findings from the State of the World Population show that all over the world, including in Zimbabwe, thousands of girls are having their health, rights and futures stolen daily through the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful cultural practices.
Minister Moyo also condemned opposition parties for running down urban councils and singled out Bulawayo.
“In Bulawayo, people who are selling their wares are having running battles with municipal police. Cars are being clamped, and those with cars are now paying for parking,” he said.
“While all this is happening, Government is being blamed yet it’s the councillors from the opposition parties that are running those urban councils.
The MDC, which now have different splinters has been in charge of councils since 2002.
Government has over the years been grappling with the problem of councils’ failure to deliver good services to ratepayers. Ratepayers have watched helplessly while service delivery deteriorated over the years.
Minister Moyo said delivery has deteriorated to unprecedented levels in urban centres with residents going for days without water, while garbage goes for months uncollected.
“The councillors have failed to fix roads in Bulawayo, even managing the water situation. They are advocating and chasing women who sell their wares leaving thieves,” he said.
“Government led by President Mnangagwa had to intervene to fix the roads through Zinara, as the opposition councillors failed to do so.”
Minister Moyo said soon the Presidential Chicken and Goat schemes will be launched in the districts.
“Each household will be given nine chickens and one rooster. Then a goat scheme will be given to the headman. The male goat will not be for the headman, but for it to be used as a stud for the village,” he said.
Online Reporter