Trust model aims to benefit locals from natural resources

benefit from these endowments, Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda has said.
Addressing heads of ministries and principal directors at a workshop in Harare on Wednesday, Dr Sibanda said other areas would benefit from the resources through programmes that would be executed by the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board.
The workshop was a platform for heads of ministries to receive policy guidance from the Chief Secretary.
Dr Sibanda said the model was being crafted in line with implementation of major projects aimed at minimising the effects of illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He said these included the ethanol plant in Chisumbanje and diamond mining in Chiadzwa.
“It is intended that a community-based development trust model being developed will ensure that communities living in resource-endowed regions will directly benefit from these developments whilst the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board will ensure that those communities who may not be richly endowed in mineral and other natural resources will also benefit,” Dr Sibanda said.
He said in pursuit of the anti-sanctions drive, it was important to establish institutions that facilitate resource mobilisation to manage the country’s debt.
He said this would help to attain desired levels of economic growth and development.
Dr Sibanda said 13 thematic committees were working on strategies to this end.
“Heads of ministries and principal directors are expected to facilitate the mainstreaming of the policy into respective ministry activities and other areas under your jurisdiction, and to ensure that the Acts falling under the purview of ministers are in conformity with the decisions emanating from Cabinet.”