'The purpose of empowerment is to benefit the locals' says Dr Mpofu

Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu has challenged political leaders to correctly articulate developmental issues to the electorate to complement Government's empowerment programmes. He said the purpose of empowerment is to benefit the locals economically.
This comes amid revelations that some communities still do not understand the concept of indigenisation and empowerment.
Speaking at a soccer tournament organised by Victoria Falls businessman Mr Bekithemba Mpofu in Ndlovu area, Kachechete Ward, in Hwange West Constituency on Sunday, Dr Mpofu said some politicians had let down the electorate by failing to identify developmental projects on their behalf.
He bemoaned lack of development in most communities, especially in Matabeleland North Province and blamed political leaders for lacking capacity.
" North Province is well resourced but there is nothing to show on the ground in terms of development. Schools are still underdeveloped yet we have the best timber in the country. The reason is that there is lack of appreciation by the leadership who have failed to direct people on how to identify projects," said Dr Mpofu, who is also Umguza Member of Parliament.
He said there was no interaction between political leaders and the electorate and as a result communities suffered lack of development.
"What I have seen is that people are lost as they are not being given direction or assisted in identifying developmental issues. People need a clear leadership channel, a thing that is lacking here in our province. There are so many programmes that the Government has come up with to indigenise the economy and empower locals but people seem not to know about these," said Dr Mpofu.
He said this was one of the reasons why communities were lagging in terms of development.
Dr Mpofu said he had approached Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour  Kasukuwere to send a team to explain indigenisation.
"I have talked to Minister Kasukuwere to send a team to the province to explain to people what it means to have resources in their locality. This is a tourist hub but what does that mean to the community when people cannot be employed or benefit from these resources?
"I blame some of our colleagues because they are not articulating some of these issues. There is nothing to show that these people have benefited. The purpose of empowerment is to benefit the locals economically and we cannot leave our people to suffer when others are benefiting," he said.
Dr Mpofu said the Government would engage hotels and safaris to prioritise local communities to empower locals.
He challenged people to elect leaders that would bring development to their communities, adding that the province needed more ministers for it to develop.
"Think about what you want and choose the best candidate when elections come. We will always be there to help you with projects and employment. Choose people who can be ministers because we want more ministers in our province. I am happy that the blind man now sees a straight road and let us continue supporting each other as people of Hwange West.
"Development means choosing a person you want to effectively lead you. People choose poverty by electing people who do not have their interests at heart.
"Our community is undeveloped and has poor roads. Some people bake baba lesiyezi, nxa ungaba lesiyezi man. It is painful to see youths from my area suffering when others are developing.
"It is good because you came here and showed your love for a developmental project and this gives us pride and zeal to help you.  Chiefs always come to me asking about how they could develop their communities and I have told them that it depends on them and the kind of developmental programmes they initiate."
Chief Mvuthu said they were hopeful the launch of the Community Share Ownership Scheme would bring development to the community.
He said the five chiefs in Hwange District had suggested that they be given at least two safaris to operate and plough back the returns to their communities as part of empowerment programmes.
"As a province, we are happy about the Community Share Ownership Scheme and we are waiting for the launch by the President. We met as chiefs after seeing that safaris were not remitting to the community yet they hunt and get a lot of money but take it back to their communities.
"Many of them are not locals, what we expected was that at least two safaris to be given to us chiefs so that we do the hunting and use the returns to develop our communities. The Government would assist but we should be self-sustainable.
" District is full of hunting safaris and we have the biggest national park and our wish is that at least we get a college to teach professional hunters' guide and tour guide courses to empower our youths," said Chief Mvuthu.