adminVICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko has called on rural communities to look for homegrown solutions to their challenges and not wait for assistance from outsiders.
He made this call during the unveiling of a library and administration block at Masungane Primary School in Beitbridge on Friday, where he was the guest of honour. The library and administration block were constructed and handed over to the school by a former pupil, Zanu-PF Politburo member and former ambassador to Egypt Dr Aaron Maboyi Ncube.
VP Mphoko said development in rural areas should be spearheaded by locals if it is to address the specific needs of the communities. He said rural communities should be wary of “Good Samaritans” who come under the guise of assisting when they are bent on exploitation.
“No-one will come here aboard a Shu-shine bus to help you develop your area. Solutions to your challenges are all over around you. If someone from outside pitches a tent here and tells you they want to help you, be careful. That person would have seen an opportunity to make money,” he said.
VP Mphoko said people should take a cue from Ambassador Maboyi and make commitments to develop their own areas.
“Ambassador Maboyi built a library for his former school. That is what I’m talking about. Let us make that commitment to develop our areas and know that no one will come to help us,” he said.
The Vice-President expressed hope that the library will be equipped with adequate books and research material that will empower local children to be champions of development in their area. He said empowering children with the requisite knowledge will unlock their potential to exploit natural resources available in their areas for the benefit of their community.
VP Mphoko said the Venda community had vast knowledge in traditional medicine, adding that if that knowledge was to be passed on to younger generations and integrated with modern methods, it would have enormous benefits.
“These trees hold a lot of secrets. If your children research on what these trees have to offer, their medicinal properties, we will discover a lot. You never know, the cure for HIV may be in one of these many trees. The cure may be found here in Beitbridge.
“Venda people are known for knowing traditional medicine. Don’t be ashamed of that. Use that knowledge for development. Pass it on to the next generation and not die with it because that won’t help us in any way. If the knowledge that you have is integrated with modern methods that your children would have learnt at school, your area stands to benefit more,” he said.
VP Mphoko also urged the Venda-speaking people not to look at themselves as lesser people, saying there was no Zimbabwean better than any other. He said the Venda must have a sense of ownership of their resources and fully exploit the resources for their benefit. VP Mphoko also reiterated his call on parents to discourage their children from leaving the country for South Africa, saying the neighbouring country had nothing to offer Zimbabweans.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Minister of State for National Security Cde Kembo Mohadi, his wife Cde Tambudzani Mohadi who is the Senator for Beitbridge, VP Mphoko’s wife Laurinda, legislator for Beitbridge West constituency Cde Metrine Mudau and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango.
Online Reporter