Minister to push for recapitalisation of Bulawayo's ailing industries

THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo, Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, yesterday said she will  push for the recapitalisation of the city's ailing industries and will this week meet the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha in the city to discuss and explore ways of addressing the challenge.

Outlining her programme of action during a wide-ranging interview at her offices at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, Moyo commonly known as Sandi said her priority was to revive Bulawayo's ailing industries in line with the Zanu-PF manifesto.

"As Minister of State responsible for Bulawayo Province, my first priority is to see that the city regains its former glory as the country's industrial hub and this calls for the revival of the city's industries. This is an issue that requires immediate attention considering that a number of our people are now jobless following the closure of many companies.

"I am meeting the Minister of Industry and Commerce to discuss ways of addressing the issue of firms that closed and those that are not operating at full capacity," said Moyo.

About 100 companies have either closed shop or relocated to Harare rendering thousands of people jobless.

The Minister said she was also worried about lack of transparency in the disbursement of funds under the Government-funded Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf).

"There was no transparency in the disbursement of funds under Dimaf and I intend to make a follow up together with Minister Bimha. I want to know how much was released and advanced to local companies. My belief is that when money comes to Bulawayo let those funds directly benefit local companies," said Moyo.

She also urged the local business community to plough back and help develop the city.

"I also would like to take to task the Bulawayo business community and other service providers to complement our efforts as Government by ploughing back their proceeds so that we are able to jointly develop our city.

"It is everyone's social responsibility, including businesses to assist Bulawayo grow since they are also benefiting.  I intend to engage stakeholders because Bulawayo belongs to all of us," said Moyo.

Responding to concerns by residents on the issue of high rentals, which have reportedly contributed to driving away indigenous business from mainstream business in the central business district, the Minister promised to address the problem.

"The city council must have a human face. They must desist from the culture of unnecessarily hiking rentals as that also impacts negatively on the indigenisation policy. We want our own people to also operate businesses rather than a scenario where you have foreigners dominating because they can afford paying high rentals. That has to stop forthwith and I will soon meet the Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo and the Town Clerk, Mr Middleton Nyoni so that we address that issue," said Moyo.
She also pledged to look into the issue of the shortage of Mathematics and Science teachers in Bulawayo, which educationists said contributed to poor examination results.

"Most of our children cannot enrol at local colleges and universities such as the National University of Science and Technology because they would have failed Science and Mathematics subjects. We have a serious shortage of teachers and inadequate resources because of sanctions imposed on us by the West.

"Sanctions have in essence affected all operations in our country and the education sector is no exception. I will engage the line ministry so that we jointly address that problem as a matter of urgency.

"Education is important because without it growth and development of the country is stifled," said Moyo.
The Minister also castigated individuals who are in the habit of acquiring many stands through unorthodox means at the expense of thousand of homeless people.

"I am aware that we have people who continue to unscrupulously get several stands using their financial muscle to bribe city council officials. I will get to the bottom of this problem because we want everyone in Bulawayo to benefit, no one is special as far as the issue of accommodation is concerned," she said.

The city's housing backlog is estimated to be more than 100 000.
Moyo also urged the council to revive social amenities such as youth centres and women's clubs and vocational training centres, which she said would help equip residents with survival skills.

Born on 11 November 1946 in Ngwanyana area in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, Moyo, a former Senator for Bulilima and Mangwe and Zanu-PF Politburo member, attended primary and secondary school in Kimberley, South Africa. After completing high school, Moyo trained as teacher and briefly taught in the neighbouring country before she decided to return home.

After returning home, she taught at Zimnyama Primary School in Mangwe District and Hingwe Primary School in Bulilima before joining the Bulawayo City Council where she worked as a social worker.

She was also involved in trade unionism during the colonial era. In 1972, Moyo fed up with the racist Ian Smith regime left for Zambia to join the liberation struggle where she underwent military training at Mukushi and Solwezi military camps.

After completing military training she was deployed to the Zapu headquarters where she worked closely with the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, George Silundika, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda among others.

She was an administrator in charge of protocol. After independence, Moyo went on to further her studies at the National University of Lesotho where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.

Moyo also holds several certificates in public administration and industrial relations from colleges in Germany and the United Kingdom.