'Matabeleland villagers are cowards,' says Mphoko

Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko has suggested that Matabeleland people are cowards as they are afraid to voice out their concerns.

Mphoko was engaging villagers in the Gwayi area of Matabeleland North on Wednesday when he toured the Gwayi-Shangani Dam site.

He was asked why companies from outside the region are importing labour at their expense.

He said "Everybody must be empowered in this country and that is how we can solve conflicts and reconcile our people.

"Companies should consider local people first when employing personnel for national projects. Unless if it's an area that needs technical expertise, otherwise all general work and other menial tasks should be given to locals," he said.

"You're aware that I'm also the Minister of National Healing and Reconciliation. Make sure that next time we come here there are no complaints of this nature.

"Our Government offices are there to deal with such issues but the problem is that you (villagers) are afraid to approach your leaders and tell them your problems."

Meanwhile, contractors for the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project in Matabeleland North have long abandoned the multimillion dollar project, Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko wad told on Wednesday.

Mphoko was on a tour of the province this week.

No activity has been taking place for past three years, due to lack of funding.

Close to $90 million is required to complete the project, which is part of a solution to Bulawayo's perennial water problems and robust agricultural development in the province.

Engineers in charge of the project told the Mphoko and senior government officials that nothing was happening on the ground as there was no money.

"Currently the project is on suspension due to lack of funding. The contractor stopped working citing funding constraints and we hope money will be found for it to resume," said one of the engineers during a briefing.

It also emerged that the government owed the contractor close to $18 million for the preliminary works that had been done since commencement of the project in 2012.

In shock VP Mphoko retorted "So at the moment there's nothing taking place here?" to which the engineer replied "Yes".

The State Procurement Board awarded the Chinese firm tender to do the project in November 2012.

According to the engineers, the contractor immediately moved to site by mobilising equipment, created access roads, erected requisite structures and machinery installations, which were seen by VP Mphoko.

"The contractor has done concrete excavations, which were completed in December 2012 but could not proceed further because of funds. He had to stop operations five months later in May 2013," said the engineer.