News / Local
Bulawayo honours Payne
30 Aug 2014 at 08:08hrs | Views
The Bulawayo City Council has given befitting honours to the late water activist, Arnold Payne, by including his name in the prestigious Book of Civic Honours for his active role in campaigning for water provision for the people of Matabeleland, particularly Bulawayo.
Payne, who died at Mater Dei Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 76, departed with his dream yet to be realised.
In a written statement, BCC's senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said Bulawayo remembers with pride Payne's meritorious work in uplifting the community.
"His name is recorded in the Book of Civic Honours, which also contains citations referring to his years of commendable service to the city," she said, adding that: "Councillors, directors, senior management staff of the Bulawayo City Council and the entire Bulawayo communities are saddened at the untimely death of Arnold Payne."
Payne will be remembered for his selfless campaign after he travelled all the way from the Zambezi River to Bulawayo, then to Gwanda and back to the city pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with a 210-litre drum with water, all in the name of raising awareness of the need for Bulawayo to have Zambezi River water project done.
The city has previously given Payne a Civic Honours Award in 2006 "for the role that he played in championing efforts to ensure sustained future supplies for the city", largely because of his contributions to the water project.
"Bulawayo is saddened by the passing on of Arnold Payne, but his passion and commitment to the provision of safe and clean water to the Matabeleland region will be treasured for many years to come," said Mpofu.
Government, alongside a Chinese contractor, is in the process of constructing the Gwayi-Shangani Dam which will act as a "reservoir" for the Zambezi water as the first phase of connecting the always arid region with a 40-kilometre pipeline water.
Another recipient of the prestigious honour is Roman Catholic priest Henry Karlen, who earned the award for his outstanding work in assisting with the production of a Gukurahundi documentary.
Payne, who died at Mater Dei Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 76, departed with his dream yet to be realised.
In a written statement, BCC's senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said Bulawayo remembers with pride Payne's meritorious work in uplifting the community.
"His name is recorded in the Book of Civic Honours, which also contains citations referring to his years of commendable service to the city," she said, adding that: "Councillors, directors, senior management staff of the Bulawayo City Council and the entire Bulawayo communities are saddened at the untimely death of Arnold Payne."
Payne will be remembered for his selfless campaign after he travelled all the way from the Zambezi River to Bulawayo, then to Gwanda and back to the city pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with a 210-litre drum with water, all in the name of raising awareness of the need for Bulawayo to have Zambezi River water project done.
The city has previously given Payne a Civic Honours Award in 2006 "for the role that he played in championing efforts to ensure sustained future supplies for the city", largely because of his contributions to the water project.
"Bulawayo is saddened by the passing on of Arnold Payne, but his passion and commitment to the provision of safe and clean water to the Matabeleland region will be treasured for many years to come," said Mpofu.
Government, alongside a Chinese contractor, is in the process of constructing the Gwayi-Shangani Dam which will act as a "reservoir" for the Zambezi water as the first phase of connecting the always arid region with a 40-kilometre pipeline water.
Another recipient of the prestigious honour is Roman Catholic priest Henry Karlen, who earned the award for his outstanding work in assisting with the production of a Gukurahundi documentary.
Source - Zim Mail
