adminGwanda Correspondent
SANCTIONS imposed on Zimbabwe by the Western countries have stalled the completion of capital projects in Matabeleland South Province.
Briefing members of the National Defence College on the state of affairs in the Matabeleland South Province in Gwanda Town last week, the Minister of State responsible for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abedinico Ncube, said the economic sanctions which were imposed on the country have resulted in some important capital projects remaining at a standstill due to the liquidity crunch.
“The sanctions imposed on the country by the Western countries have impacted negatively on the progression of capital projects in the province. Some of the projects have been lying idle for years with little progress taking place due to the liquidity crunch facing our economy,” he said.
The meeting heard that the construction of the provincial magistrates’ court, which has taken about 10 years, was at 28 percent completion as progress on the construction process has been slow.
As a result, the provincial magistrates’ court and the regional court are housed at the District Administrator’s complex where there is a serious shortage of space.
Another capital project, Tokwana Clinic in Plumtree is also at 20 percent despite the fact that the project was started a long time ago.
However, Cde Ncube said the Government’s indigenisation policy would turn around the province’s economy.
He said a serious stance needed to be taken towards non-compliant foreign owned companies that should cede shares to the local communities.
“I think as Government we have been very lenient on these non-compliant companies. We cannot continue to allow these foreign owned companies to do things as they please and defy Government laws.
“These foreign companies have been deceiving us. They pretend as if they have complied with the indigenisation laws yet in actual fact nothing is in place,” said Cde Ncube.
He said the province continued to face numerous challenges ranging from the poor state of the roads, accessibility to clean water and drought as lots of companies were failing to comply with the indigenisation policy to transform the economy of the province.
Online Reporter