admin
Bulawayo Bureau
ZANU PF has directed the Government to expedite the completion of key infrastructure development projects in Matabeleland region including the construction of Lake Gwayi Shangani and Lupane Provincial Hospital.
The ruling party further recommended that July 1 be declared a national holiday in honour of the late national hero Dr Joshua Nkomo.
The ruling party also resolved that the Government should timeously disburse funds for the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), which pays school fees for thousands of vulnerable learners.
These resolutions, among others, were arrived at during the 21st Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference, which ended in Bulawayo on Saturday under the theme: “Industrialise and Modernise Towards the Attainment of Vision 2030”.
The party’s secretary for legal affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, presented the resolutions at the close of the national conference at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.
“The party directs the Government to capacitate provincial and district hospitals with ambulances, expedite the completion of Lupane Provincial Hospital, expedite the development of Lupane as the provincial capital for Matabeleland North and expedite the establishment of the School of Hospitality Industry in Victoria Falls, while accelerating the provision of low-cost housing,” said Cde Chinamasa.
President Mnangagwa receives a tumbler with drinking water for tasting purified water at the venue of ZANU PF 21st Business Expo which was running concurrently with the Annual National People’s Conference on Saturday. Accompanying him are Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi (right), National Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (far left), Mrs Miniyothabo Chiwenga (second from left) and other senior officials.
He said there is also a need to fast-track the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani, which will guarantee food security in Matabeleland North, while providing Bulawayo with a permanent water solution.
Cabinet has already issued directives that civil servants deployed in Matabeleland North relocate to Lupane. Some of these projects have been put on halt due to the erratic disbursement of funds for the project.
In view of the need to develop an efficient public transport system, Cde Chinamasa said the conference emphasised the need for the Government to capacitate ZUPCO to improve service delivery.
To ensure national food security, Cde Chinamasa said the ruling party directed the Government to equip irrigation systems with modern equipment.
“The party directs Government to: intensify the upgrading and modernisation of irrigation and power generation infrastructure at existing water bodies, as well as installation of irrigation and power generation infrastructure at any idle water body, recapitalise the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) to strengthen the development agenda, increase rural electrification with focus on renewable energy, embark on an accelerated development programme to reduce the power generation deficit,” he said.
Cde Chinamasa said the Zanu PF conference noted that Government should promulgate laws that protect local producers against the proliferation of fake products, counterfeit, underweight, hazardous, improperly labelled and smuggled goods.
He said the party also wants the Government to provide a living wage to civil servants.
“The party directs Government to: strengthen monitoring mechanisms to enforce adherence to labour laws especially in the private sector, develop a programme that ensures efficiency, transparency, equity, inclusivity and speed in the distribution of drought relief to all vulnerable citizens immediately.
“The party directs Government to expedite the operationalisation, including digitalisation, of the National Disaster Management Centre,” said Cde Chinamasa.
“Ensure the urgent development and implementation of a comprehensive and transformative programme that is consistent with an upper-middle-income society for civil servants working conditions, urgently review the public and private pension policies to improve and safeguard the welfare of pensioners and the parameters of strengthening all pension funds as guided amongst others by the Justice Smith Commission report.”
Online Reporter