Chronicle Editor
Simba Jemwa, Sunday News Reporter
FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has intimated that his focus as a member of the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial executive is to ensure that the province and the region at large benefit from national development initiatives in line with President Mnangagwa’s economic trajectory that seeks to leave no-one and no place behind.
Prof Ncube said the entire southern region was an equal partner and beneficiary of infrastructural initiatives that have been rolled out by President Mnangagwa as part of his vision for an upper middle-class economy by 2030 as prescribed in the National Development Strategy-1 (NDS-1).
“For a long time, much of this region has been left behind in terms of development and infrastructural growth. But the Second Republic under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been very clear about development. The President has said to us in Government no province, man, woman or child shall be left behind as the country moves towards an upper-middle class economy by 2030.
“And I am working hard to ensure that these projects become a reality. As Government, we want all Zimbabweans to benefit from the resources that are available in the country hence the President’s clarion call that no one shall be left behind. When the President launched NDS-1, we were all tasked as Ministers to make sure that projects within our home provinces or regions are done and done properly. We were all called on to do the best that we can to see to it that our regions grow both economically and infrastructurally.
“And as such, when I come to Bulawayo province and anywhere else in the region, it is primarily aim to ensure that the President’s mandate is being carried out. And this is why I have personally been involved in seeing to it that our main, youth, women and war veterans’ wings are well catered for and capacitated,” he said.
As the finance minister, and Zanu-PF Provincial Secretary for Economic Affairs, Prof Ncube has been actively involved in several national projects such as the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and pipeline, the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) student accommodation projects, the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP II), the construction of a clinic in Cowdray Park which will be replicated in other provinces among other national projects.
Prof Ncube has been at the forefront of addressing water challenges, not just in Bulawayo but in Matabeleland South as well. He oversaw the drilling of more than 20 boreholes on Matobo district which has helped alleviate water challenges for both animals and humans in the district.
Previously, he has also donated 200 chairs for Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial headquarters offices at Davies Hall, drilled two boreholes fitted with electric pumps and two JoJo tanks for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Bulawayo province (Emaplankeni), donated and installed perimeter fence and gate for the ZNLWVA Bulawayo province offices, donated drip irrigation for the ZNLWVA Bulawayo offices for their horticulture projects, donated a borehole for the Disabled community at Freedom House in Mzilikazi suburb together with two JoJo tanks and an electric pump. Seven hectares of land at the site were also tilled for the disabled market projects. He has also spearheaded the setting up of a state of the art music studio in the city.
Other projects initiated and supported by Prof Ncube are a car wash for Zanu-PF Bulawayo youths in Cowdray Park, a mobile kitchen with a gas tank to Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province in Cowdry Park, 15 peanut butter making machines for District Coordinating Committee One (DCC1) districts for income generating projects, peanut butter making machines and chip friers for youths and women’s league in DCC1 for income generation, a welding machine for youths in Cowdray Park to boost their income generating projects, a welding machine for youths in Makokoba, two water reservoirs at Emganwini shops, drilled over 15 boreholes in DCC1 and established a nutrition garden in Queens Park East, a bricklaying project for youths at Richmond Shopping Centre as well as donating an 800-egg incubator to Fatima Mission High School in Lupane, Matabeleland North.
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