admin
Walter Mswazie in Mashava
THERE is no reason for people of Zimbabwe to go hungry when the country is endowed with vast mineral resources, Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko has said.
Addressing Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) staff at the university’s Mashava campus during a familiarisation tour yesterday, Acting President Mphoko said Zimbabwe boasts of about 43 different strategic minerals which can be exploited to the country’s advantage.
He said people just have to use their brains to exploit them for national development.
Zimbabwe’s population of 14 million, said Acting President Mphoko, can easily be sustained by its minerals.
He said he is visiting the country’s 10 provinces to identify the potential and challenges faced by people as assigned by President Robert Mugabe.
“I’ve now visited eight provinces and Masvingo is the ninth. I’m only left with Mashonaland East. In all the provinces I’ve visited, I’ve seen a lot of potential as there are many natural resources but no one is exploiting those resources to improve the lives of the people,” said the Acting President.
He said the potential in Manicaland is great and is complemented by the fact that there are seven cabinet ministers hailing from the province.
Acting President Mphoko said Midlands province, home to 1,3 million people, has about 13 strategic mineral reserves and several water sources which can be used for market gardening by communities.
He said the province has a thriving cotton farming industry.
“In Matabeleland North there’s drought and people are suffering while Matabeleland South has since become Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s cash cow. Zimra collects about $2 million per day through Beitbridge border post but there’s little to show for the revenue generated,” said Acting President Mphoko.
He applauded GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo for transforming part of Mashava Mine infrastructure from dilapidated buildings into habitable structures for use by the growing number of the university’s student population.
He said there is potential for development if all nationals emulate the GZU which has adopted a multi-campus approach for the institution.
Acting President Mphoko said Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa but only a few are using “those brilliant brains to add value to these resources lying idle in all ten provinces.”
“I really want to applaud you, Professor Zvobgo for this. People are busy fighting for positions instead of working to develop themselves and the nation at large. We can’t be proud to be number one on literacy when we can’t use our brains — transforming dilapidated infrastructure into something beautiful like this,” he added.
Acting President Mphoko said he has remained loyal to President Mugabe since the time he was his bodyguard before being assigned as ambassador then to the present position together with Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He toured the university campus which also saw him receiving medical attention at the university’s clinic.
Present at the occasion were Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo Shuvai Mahofa, provincial administrator; Felix Chikovo, Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Wonder Tembo, acting Zanu-PF provincial chair Cde Amassa Nenjana, Masvingo senator elect Cde Clemence Makwarimba, Masvingo West MP Cde Ezra Chadzamira, among others.
Online Reporter