New Ministers ready to work

It is indeed disturbing and worrisome that some sections of the media recently criticized President Mugabe for appointing Cde Shuvai Ben Mahofa to become Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo Province.

Cde Mahofa's elevation to become the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo came after Kudakwashe Bhasikiti's expulsion from that post. Bhasikiti had fallen out of President Mugabe's favour after it was discovered that he was fanning factionalism in Masvingo and closely linked to former Vice President Mujuru's cabal.

However, I am quite pleased with the enthusiasm and willingness to work that is being shown by almost all newly appointed Ministers of State for Provisional Affairs.

Before the elevation of Ministers like Mandi Chimene, Joel Biggie Matiza and Shuvai Mahofa, government business in most provinces was below standard. Nothing productive was being noticed in all these provinces. To a greater extend, this disrupted the effectiveness of the implementation of Zim-Asset, which is the current economic blue print.

All the sacked Ministers of State for the three provinces, who were booted out of government, were sabotaging the development of the economy as they were now pursuing the interest of their faction at the expense of government programs. Before the ZANU-PF National congress in December 2014, it was noted that Mujuru's cabal intended to remove President Robert Mugabe from power unconstitutionally.

Factionalism had devastated the success of Zim-Asset. It is ascertained that most funds that were supposed to be used in implementation Zim-Asset were being diverted to fund the ambitions of Mujuru's cabal of illegally succeeding the President.

At one point President Mugabe told Bhasikiti that he was belonging to the wrong basket.

"You should get out of the wrong basket. I hear you are not consistent. Get into the right basket", said President Mugabe.

In line with that, it is also believed that the sacked minister ordered his "youths" to cut down all mango and orange trees that were on his farm. However, this depicts the level of ignorance and senselessness that is within Bhasikiti.

The appointment of Cde Mahofa will witness the blooming of the province. It is well known that Amai Mahofa is a hardworker in terms of farming. As a farmer, Cde Mahofa's elevation to this post will also inspire small farmers in that province. Cde Mahofa has been always in support of President Mugabe's land reform programme. In 2012, she won a legal battle over Savuli Conservancy in Bikita against white farmers who were resisting vacation from that property.   

In addition, Cde Joel Biggie Matiza, who is the Minister of State for Mashonaland East is also working exceptionally hard in tandem with the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment policy which gives power to indigenous Zimbabweans to be in charge of all the natural resources in the country.

Most white commercial farmers in Mashonaland East are said to be illegally farming on gazette land through unsanctioned and corrupt linkages.

It is therefore noble and positive for Cde Matiza to take immediate action on all the white farmers who are occupying this land illegally. It is also alleged that these white farmers were being protected by the sacked Mashonaland East ZANU-PF provincial chairperson, Ray Kaukonde. Removing these white farmers from these illegally occupied farms will pave way for a number of youths, who are unemployed in the province, to have land.  
 
Almost every province has its own natural resources that assist in boosting the economy. After his recent elevation to the chairmanship of African Union, President Mugabe noted that, as Africans, we must make use of our resources to develop our continent. However, the same should also relate to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a nation with vast natural resources. It only needs women and men who are always ready to utilize the available resources.

It is heartening to note that Manicaland Minister of State Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, is always working hard in her province. Cde Chimene recently promised the people of Manicaland that she will turn around their misfortunes. She said these words while addressing Mutare City Council workers who have reportedly gone for a year without being paid.

However, it is saddening to note that Mutare City Council is dominated by MDC-T councilors who are unable to perform their duties adequately.

I strongly believe that excellence is derived from failing, learning and correcting the mistakes. If these ministers made mistakes before, well that is being human. No one is perfect. Therefore, we should be patient as a nation and give our ministers a chance to work and produce positive results that benefit the entire nation.