News / Regional
Matabeleland not marginalised, says Chinamasa
24 Jul 2015 at 09:25hrs | Views
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa has dismissed suggestions by MDC-T Magwegwe legislator Anele Ndebele that the government was marginalising the Matabeleland region in the distribution of resources.
During Parliament's question time on Wednesday, Ndebele accused the government of pursuing alleged separatist policies when it comes to the treatment of Matabeleland.
In response, Chinamasa said the government does not discriminate against any part of the country in the deployment of resources.
"I still don't understand the import of the question. I don't know whether the honourable member wants us to discriminate against Matebeleland. His use of the word separatism, I don't know what its import is. The point is that government treats all parts of Zimbabwe equally," said Chinamasa.
"If anything, we may seek to favour those regions which have been marginalised in the past as part of affirmative action. However, I want to assure this House that we do not discriminate against any part of the country in terms of deployment of resources."
The minister said during the colonial period, the Ian Smith regime maginalised some areas and the Zanu-PF government started addressing that after Independence in 1980.
"You're aware that during the colonial government, there were areas that were marginalised and now they have roads. There were areas which did not have schools and now they have schools. There were also areas where there were no clinics, but now they're there. You know that it was the colonial government that didn't care about the ordinary black person," explained Chinamasa.
Over the years MDC formations have been using the marginalisation card in attempts to whip up people's emotions, but the plot has dismally failed.
Zanu-PF is making inroads as more and more people vote for the party in areas that were previously seen as opposition strongholds.
The party now controls all the 13 National assembly seats in Matabeleland North. This is in addition to its clean sweep in Matabeleland South during the 2013 harmonised elections and the five seats it bagged in Bulawayo in the recent by-elections.
During Parliament's question time on Wednesday, Ndebele accused the government of pursuing alleged separatist policies when it comes to the treatment of Matabeleland.
In response, Chinamasa said the government does not discriminate against any part of the country in the deployment of resources.
"I still don't understand the import of the question. I don't know whether the honourable member wants us to discriminate against Matebeleland. His use of the word separatism, I don't know what its import is. The point is that government treats all parts of Zimbabwe equally," said Chinamasa.
"If anything, we may seek to favour those regions which have been marginalised in the past as part of affirmative action. However, I want to assure this House that we do not discriminate against any part of the country in terms of deployment of resources."
"You're aware that during the colonial government, there were areas that were marginalised and now they have roads. There were areas which did not have schools and now they have schools. There were also areas where there were no clinics, but now they're there. You know that it was the colonial government that didn't care about the ordinary black person," explained Chinamasa.
Over the years MDC formations have been using the marginalisation card in attempts to whip up people's emotions, but the plot has dismally failed.
Zanu-PF is making inroads as more and more people vote for the party in areas that were previously seen as opposition strongholds.
The party now controls all the 13 National assembly seats in Matabeleland North. This is in addition to its clean sweep in Matabeleland South during the 2013 harmonised elections and the five seats it bagged in Bulawayo in the recent by-elections.
Source - chronicle
