News / Regional
Governor commissions two irrigation schemes in Mat South
18 Jul 2013 at 04:34hrs | Views
MATABELELAND South Governor and Resident Minister Angeline Masuku has commissioned two irrigation schemes that were rehabilitated by the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust. The two irrigation schemes are Guyu-Chelesa and Sukwi, which have been lying idle for a number of years because of the damaged canals and constant breakdown of engines.
Commissioning the two projects on Tuesday, Governor Masuku said the two irrigation schemes should have been rehabilitated by the Government in 2011 under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), but that was not done because the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti did not release the funds.
"The two irrigation schemes failed to get funding as the Finance Ministry is headed by someone who has no vision for development and does not have the people at heart," said Governor Masuku.
She said the collapse of the irrigation schemes was saved by President Mugabe through his indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes such as the community share trusts.
"We are happy that our President vowed that development will not be impeded by the imposition of sanctions by the Western countries, which want to see a regime change in our country," said Governor Masuku.
"The Government initiated these trusts that enable communities to directly benefit from their natural resource. Today we are seeing and celebrating the fruits and benefits of President Mugabe's indigenisation programme.
"There is no going back on the indigenisation programme. Those who want to continue exploiting our mineral resources without complying with the indigenisation policy should not waste time but should pack their bags and go back to their countries and leave us in peace with our minerals. Some people just want to exploit our resources so that we remain beggars forever instead of them begging from us," she said.
The Government introduced community share ownership trusts to economically empower communities.
The Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust has since its formation last year also completed the refurbishment of Mapate and Sitezi clinics while the construction of Silikwe Clinic is almost complete.
Commissioning the two projects on Tuesday, Governor Masuku said the two irrigation schemes should have been rehabilitated by the Government in 2011 under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), but that was not done because the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti did not release the funds.
"The two irrigation schemes failed to get funding as the Finance Ministry is headed by someone who has no vision for development and does not have the people at heart," said Governor Masuku.
She said the collapse of the irrigation schemes was saved by President Mugabe through his indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes such as the community share trusts.
"The Government initiated these trusts that enable communities to directly benefit from their natural resource. Today we are seeing and celebrating the fruits and benefits of President Mugabe's indigenisation programme.
"There is no going back on the indigenisation programme. Those who want to continue exploiting our mineral resources without complying with the indigenisation policy should not waste time but should pack their bags and go back to their countries and leave us in peace with our minerals. Some people just want to exploit our resources so that we remain beggars forever instead of them begging from us," she said.
The Government introduced community share ownership trusts to economically empower communities.
The Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust has since its formation last year also completed the refurbishment of Mapate and Sitezi clinics while the construction of Silikwe Clinic is almost complete.
Source - chronicle
