Mnangagwa hails Mashonaland West

Mashonaland West is a very important province in Zimbabwe as it provides the country with abundant economic opportunities in agriculture and mining, President Mnangagwa said recently.

In his address during a highly-subscribed star rally at-PFupajena Stadium in Chegutu last week, the President said while there was debate on which province produces more food between Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central, statistics showed Mashonaland West way ahead.

He said Mashonaland West had the best agricultural land and mineral deposits.

"If you look at agriculture, if you look across the country, where are the country's silos? They are all in Mashonaland West," he said.

"We have them at Lions' Den, some are in Banket. We have some here in Chegutu while some are in Norton. These are the largest silos in Zimbabwe and that is where we keep our food reserves.

"This shows that Mashonaland West is very, very important in looking after the country in as much as food security is concerned."

President Mnangagwa said there was debate among the Zanu-PF leadership on which province between Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central produced more food.

"However, when we go to statistics, which province has more food in their silos?" he said.

"It's here (in Mashonaland West). That is when the argument is settled. But the question is, are you still going to remain the champions in growing food for the country?"

President Mnangagwa expressed concern with idle land, which was not being utilised across the province.

"When we fly around in helicopters we see lots of idle land," he said.

"Vast tracts of land, the whole country is lying idle. What is happening? So, we have embarked on a land audit.

"The land audit is showing us that there are people who gave each other two, three or four farms, but do not have the capacity to utilise this land, so we will repossess these farms and allocate to others."

In mining, President Mnangagwa said, Mashonaland West was well-endowed with various resources.

"This province is well-endowed, but these mineral resources are below the earth surface and some of you sleep on top of minerals such as platinum and gold," he said.

"Here in Mashonaland West that is where we have the longest stretch of the Great Dyke, which has gold, platinum, chrome, copper, lithium and so on. All this is in Mashonaland West."

The President said the relaxation of the indigenisation laws had seen Government introducing various mining projects.

"Besides the platinum project in Darwendale where there will be production and employment creation very soon, there is another project at Zimplats where they are now expanding because the political and economic environment is now conducive for business," he said.

"We also have Karo Resources coming to Mashonaland West with an investment of more than $4 billion here in Mashonaland West, God loves you.

"God has given you so much resources enough to develop your province.

"However, every province in Zimbabwe has enough resources to grow."

Zimbabwe, under the new dispensation ushered in after Operation Restore Legacy in November last year, has attracted more than $16 billion in investment commitments.