Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North province on Saturday adopted a raft of resolutions covering the economy, mining, food security, infrastructure, social services and poverty eradication ahead of the ruling party’s 23rd National People’s Conference to be held in Chinhoyi in October.
The resolutions were adopted at the party’s Provincial Inter-District Conference in Lupane, where delegates deliberated on key developmental challenges affecting the province and proposed measures to accelerate economic growth and improve the welfare of communities.
The resolutions are expected to form part of the province’s submissions to the national conference, in line with the party’s tradition of using its annual gatherings to shape policies and programmes aimed at advancing national development.
On industrialisation and local beneficiation, the province called for the establishment of timber processing factories in Lupane, Binga, Tsholotsho and Nkayi districts to create employment and add value to locally available wood resources.
It also urged foreign investors to comply with the local supply chain policy by procuring consumables locally.
Food security and nutrition also featured prominently among the resolutions, with delegates calling for accelerated investment in water infrastructure and irrigation as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural production.
The province called for the speedy completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, which is expected to provide water for Matabeleland North and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province while supporting irrigation, employment creation and industrial development.
“That the completion of Gwayi-Shangani Dam construction be speeded up to enhance food security, employment creation and provision of water to Matabeleland North Province and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and that the affected communities are relocated to appropriately serviced areas where they will still benefit from the dam.”
The province also called for the full operationalisation of the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga and increased utilisation of Zambezi River water to boost agricultural production along the river.
It further resolved that construction of Ziminya Dam in Nkayi be expedited, while Nanda and Nshaba dams in Tsholotsho should be constructed.
The delegates also called for adequate funding of the Presidential Borehole Drilling and Village Business Units (VBU) schemes to accelerate implementation.
The province further proposed that the Matetsi Hunting Concession in Hwange be ceded to the local community as an empowerment initiative.
“That the Presidential borehole drilling and VBU Schemes be adequately funded for the speedy implementation and that Matetsi Hunting Concession be ceded to local Community in Hwange District as an empowerment enabler.”
To strengthen grain storage and reduce challenges associated with transporting produce during drought periods, the province called for the construction of a grain silo in the Binga-Lusulu area.
It also proposed the establishment of a 50-hectare Mlotheni-Gwese irrigation scheme in Tsholotsho District.
Under social services and poverty eradication, the province expressed concern over delays in the completion of major road projects due to erratic funding.
Recognising Government’s commitment to the construction and rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi-Gokwe Road and Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road, the province resolved that Government prioritise their completion.
It also called for the rehabilitation of several other strategic roads, including the Plumtree-Tsholotsho-Siphepha-Lupane road, which it said had deteriorated into a footpath.
On decentralisation, the province resolved rhat the Government Provincial Offices fully re-locate to Lupane to strengthen visibility and access to essential services to the locals.
It proposed the establishment of a Secondary Teacher Training School in Nkayi District to strengthen inclusive teacher training and address shortages of teachers in rural areas.
The province further called for part of the Forestry Commission State land in Binga to be designated for resettlement of locals, arguing that communities in the area did not benefit from the land reform programme because of a shortage of adjacent commercial farms.
The resolutions also placed emphasis on improving access to health and education services, with the province calling for Government to equip all health facilities with basic medicines, particularly drugs required by patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
It called for the decentralisation of teacher recruitment to districts in line with the National Development Strategy 2 decentralisation thrust.
The province further proposed that all secondary schools be equipped with science laboratories to strengthen STEM education and improve access to practical learning facilities.
In the health sector, delegates called for the operationalisation of Hwange District Hospital and adequate resourcing of all district hospitals, including the provision of reliable ambulances, doctors and laboratory facilities.
The construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital should also be expedited to enable it to meet the standards of a referral institution, the province said.
It further resolved that Hwange Colliery Hospital be accorded district hospital status and that the Hwange Colliery School of Nursing be expanded to increase the intake of local students.
“Tsholotsho School of Nursing be upgraded to allow increased intake and that the Sipepa Rural Hospital be refurbished, a skills vocational training canters be established in remaining districts of Lupane and Tsholotsho.”
The 23rd National People’s Conference is expected to provide a platform for provinces to present their resolutions and recommendations for consideration by the party’s leadership as it continues to shape policies and programmes supporting Zimbabwe’s development objectives.
