News / Local
Civic society to petition Government over Zambezi Water project
17 Feb 2012 at 10:22hrs | Views
CIVIC society organisations in the western region of Bulawayo have indicated that they will soon petition the Robert Mugabe led shaky government over the failure and or neglect of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.
Co-addressing a press conference held at the Habakkuk Trust offices in Bulawayo today, Godwin Phiri, Belinda Ncube and Pastor Anglistos jointly said they are launching a month long Awareness campaign in Bulawayo which will culminate in a water conference where Water Resources Development and Management minister Sam Sipepa Nkomo will receive the petition.
Phiri is the chairperson of the National Non Governmental Organisations in the Western region; Ncube is his deputy whereas pastor Anglistois is a NANGO board member.
The civic society outfits that have started the 'petition' process are: NANGO, Habakkuk Trust and Shalom Project Trust. NANGO has more than 250 institutional members in the western region.
The NMZWP, a water pipeline initiative was started in 1912 by the settler regime, turns 100 this year. Successive governments have failed to make any progress on it.
"A whole century has elapsed since the idea was first muted and yet up to this day not a single drop of water is being harvested from Zambezi River not at least 10 meters pipeline laid.
"It is common knowledge that Matabeleland falls in Natural regions 4 and 5 which are susceptible to drought. Research shows that the Kalahari Desert is fast encroaching into Zimbabwe through the Matabeleland region and the implication of this reality are that this will increase the vulnerability of the region to the adverse weather conditions that come with desertification," said Phiri.
Ncube added that their intention was not to apportion blame but was to "re-energise crops sectional efforts to make the dream a reality."
She further stated: "We call upon government, the private sector and local authorities in Matabeleland, Donors, NGOs and other stakeholders to focus on how we can collectively ensure that the water project is implemented in our lifetime.
"...The 100 years of 'pipe dream commemorations' are therefore a concerted effort by civic society in the Matabeleland region coordinated by NANGO to place the Zambezi Water Project at the centre of the development agenda. The process will include marches, road shows, conference and the mobilization of 1 million signatures petition.
"All these activities are meant to raise awareness on the matter of life and death which MZWP has become," said Ncube.
The initiative comes barely a day after minister Sipepa Nkomo revealed to a local weekly, The Southern Star that Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe are guilty for failing to ensure that the project is a success.
This Sipepa said was due to the fact that Zanu PF functionaries watched helplessly the project gathering dust in government shelves.
Co-addressing a press conference held at the Habakkuk Trust offices in Bulawayo today, Godwin Phiri, Belinda Ncube and Pastor Anglistos jointly said they are launching a month long Awareness campaign in Bulawayo which will culminate in a water conference where Water Resources Development and Management minister Sam Sipepa Nkomo will receive the petition.
Phiri is the chairperson of the National Non Governmental Organisations in the Western region; Ncube is his deputy whereas pastor Anglistois is a NANGO board member.
The civic society outfits that have started the 'petition' process are: NANGO, Habakkuk Trust and Shalom Project Trust. NANGO has more than 250 institutional members in the western region.
The NMZWP, a water pipeline initiative was started in 1912 by the settler regime, turns 100 this year. Successive governments have failed to make any progress on it.
"A whole century has elapsed since the idea was first muted and yet up to this day not a single drop of water is being harvested from Zambezi River not at least 10 meters pipeline laid.
Ncube added that their intention was not to apportion blame but was to "re-energise crops sectional efforts to make the dream a reality."
She further stated: "We call upon government, the private sector and local authorities in Matabeleland, Donors, NGOs and other stakeholders to focus on how we can collectively ensure that the water project is implemented in our lifetime.
"...The 100 years of 'pipe dream commemorations' are therefore a concerted effort by civic society in the Matabeleland region coordinated by NANGO to place the Zambezi Water Project at the centre of the development agenda. The process will include marches, road shows, conference and the mobilization of 1 million signatures petition.
"All these activities are meant to raise awareness on the matter of life and death which MZWP has become," said Ncube.
The initiative comes barely a day after minister Sipepa Nkomo revealed to a local weekly, The Southern Star that Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe are guilty for failing to ensure that the project is a success.
This Sipepa said was due to the fact that Zanu PF functionaries watched helplessly the project gathering dust in government shelves.
Source - Byo24News
