Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
ZANU-PF Matabeleland North Province has adopted a raft of resolutions calling for sweeping reforms in mining, accelerated infrastructure development, improved social services and greater investment in agriculture as it seeks to address the province’s longstanding development challenges.
The resolutions, which were adopted at the party’s provincial inter-district conference in Lupane at the weekend, will form part of the province’s submissions to the ruling party’s 23rd National People’s Conference, scheduled for Chinhoyi in October.
Delegates placed particular emphasis on ensuring that Matabeleland North’s abundant natural resources translate into tangible benefits for local communities while accelerating the provision of infrastructure and basic services.
On mining, the province called for the removal of Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) to create opportunities for local investors and youths to participate in the sector.
It also called for the implementation of a “use it or lose it” policy to discourage multinational companies from holding large mining claims for speculative purposes.
The province further proposed reforms to land-use policies to give owners of plots in resettlement areas first refusal rights over mining claims and other economic opportunities on their land.
Delegates also called for a comprehensive coal mining policy to promote sustainable extraction and beneficiation while ensuring that more value is retained locally.
“(The Zanu PF Matabeleland North Province resolved) that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development come up with a coal mining policy regulating sustainable extraction and beneficiation of the product to retain by-products like tar, gas, benzene and boost employment opportunities,” read part of the resolution.
The province also wants non-functioning special mining grants, particularly those linked to the Lupane coal-bed methane gas projects, revoked to make way for serious investors.
Beyond mining, the party called for the establishment of timber processing factories in Lupane, Binga, Tsholotsho and Nkayi to create employment and add value to locally available resources.
Foreign investors were also urged to comply with local supply-chain requirements by procuring consumables locally.
The province called for intensified security along the Zambezi River to curb the smuggling of goods and services across the border.
Water infrastructure and food security emerged as other major priorities, with delegates calling for accelerated investment in irrigation and dams to strengthen agricultural production.
The province wants the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam expedited, citing its importance to water security, irrigation, employment creation and industrial development in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo.
“(The Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Province resolved) 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,” said the party.
The province also called for the full operationalisation of the Bhulaayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga and greater utilisation of Zambezi River water to boost agricultural production along the river.
It further wants construction of the Ziminya Dam in Nkayi expedited, while the Nanda and Nshaba dams in Tsholotsho should also be constructed.
“The Presidential Borehole Drilling and Village Business Unit programmes should receive adequate funding to accelerate implementation”, the province said.
Delegates also proposed that the Matetsi Hunting Concession in Hwange be ceded to the local community as an empowerment initiative.
To strengthen grain storage and reduce transport challenges during drought periods, the province called for the construction of a grain silo in the Binga-Lusulu area.
It also proposed the establishment of the 50-hectare Mlotheni-Gwese irrigation scheme in Tsholotsho.
Road infrastructure featured prominently, with delegates expressing concern over delays in completing major projects because of erratic funding.
The province called for Government to prioritise the completion of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi-Gokwe Road and Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe Road.
It also called for the rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Tsholotsho-Sipepa-Lupane Road, which delegates said had deteriorated to the extent of resembling a footpath.
Other roads earmarked for rehabilitation include the Victoria Falls-Deka Drum-Binga-Siabuwa
Road, Binga-Siabuwa-Karoi Road, Cross Dete-Kamativi-Binga Road and Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
The province further called for an increase in the annual 10km surfacing target on the Binga-Siabuwa-Karoi Road.
On decentralisation, delegates want Government provincial offices to fully relocate to Lupane to
improve access to services and strengthen the provincial capital’s role.
They also called for the speedy disbursement of devolution funds to enable local authorities to improve service delivery.
The resolutions also focused heavily on improving access to health and education services in the largely rural province.
Delegates called for all health facilities to be adequately supplied with basic medicines, particularly drugs required by patients suffering from chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
They want Hwange District Hospital operationalised and district hospitals adequately resourced with ambulances, doctors and laboratory facilities.
The party said the construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital should also be expedited to enable the institution to operate as a fully-fledged referral hospital.
The province further called for Hwange Colliery Hospital to be accorded district hospital status and for the Hwange Colliery School of Nursing to be expanded to increase the intake of local students.
It also wants Tsholotsho School of Nursing upgraded, Sipepa Rural Hospital refurbished and vocational training centres established in the remaining districts of Lupane and Tsholotsho.
On education, delegates proposed the establishment of a secondary teacher training college in Nkayi to address shortages of teachers in rural communities.
They also called for the decentralisation of teacher recruitment to districts in line with the National
Development Strategy 2 decentralisation thrust.
All secondary schools should be equipped with science laboratories to strengthen STEM education and improve access to practical learning, the province resolved.
The province further called for part of Forestry Commission State land in Binga to be set aside for resettlement, arguing that some communities had not benefited from the land reform programme because of the shortage of adjacent commercial farms.
The resolutions reflect the province’s push for greater investment in productive sectors while addressing infrastructure and social-service gaps, with delegates seeking to align Matabeleland
North’s development priorities with the broader national development agenda.
The recommendations will now be taken to the 23rd National People’s Conference for consideration as the ruling party continues its policy formulation process ahead of the country’s broader development objectives.
