News / Regional
Concerns over the centralized government system
10 Mar 2015 at 07:17hrs | Views
MDC CHAIRMAN for Matabeleland South Pilate Ndebele has called for more dam construction in Matabeleland in order to counter drought which has always characterized the provinces indicating that this year both commercial and communal farmers will not harvest anything due to poor rains.
His remarks come at a time when crops in Matabeleland are in a bad state with most of the areas in the provinces having virtually lost big yields as the crops have already dried.
Ndebele expressed concerns over the centralized government system despite the inclusion of devolution of power in the new constitution.
He said if the government financing processes were decentralized, villagers in the drought prone regions would be able to access funds which they can use to conduct alternative measures of countering the rain shortage.
"It appears Zanu-PF government continues to play with people's minds here," said Ndebele.
"As we speak people in my area were given farm inputs this January, when you give a person inputs now what would you be expecting him or her to do with it at a time when chances of rain continuing to fall dwindles? This is ridiculous."
Ndebele said it is sad that when it comes to elections people in Matabeleland who know very well that Zanu-PF has done nothing serious for their up-liftment since independence under fear they vote for such people.
"When they are being given inputs now why can't people realize that Zanu-PF wants to keep them under check so that when elections come it will say they are now forgetting that it has been assisting them," said Ndebele.
"The only solution we must have in Matabeleland region is to construct more dams and Irrigation schemes since there are no enough rains.
"This is because government has not yet effected devolution of power which people want. If we are a province managing our resources and finance we would construct our dams and irrigation schemes. We would think on our own what we should do to counter the continuous drought problem."
He challenged the people in the region not to be afraid of Zanu-PF during elections.
He said people have been voting for Zanu-PF and have not benefited much from its rule.
"We fought for this country and we are still have nothing to show for it, next time people must make their own choices without fear," he said.
His remarks come at a time when crops in Matabeleland are in a bad state with most of the areas in the provinces having virtually lost big yields as the crops have already dried.
Ndebele expressed concerns over the centralized government system despite the inclusion of devolution of power in the new constitution.
He said if the government financing processes were decentralized, villagers in the drought prone regions would be able to access funds which they can use to conduct alternative measures of countering the rain shortage.
"It appears Zanu-PF government continues to play with people's minds here," said Ndebele.
"As we speak people in my area were given farm inputs this January, when you give a person inputs now what would you be expecting him or her to do with it at a time when chances of rain continuing to fall dwindles? This is ridiculous."
"When they are being given inputs now why can't people realize that Zanu-PF wants to keep them under check so that when elections come it will say they are now forgetting that it has been assisting them," said Ndebele.
"The only solution we must have in Matabeleland region is to construct more dams and Irrigation schemes since there are no enough rains.
"This is because government has not yet effected devolution of power which people want. If we are a province managing our resources and finance we would construct our dams and irrigation schemes. We would think on our own what we should do to counter the continuous drought problem."
He challenged the people in the region not to be afraid of Zanu-PF during elections.
He said people have been voting for Zanu-PF and have not benefited much from its rule.
"We fought for this country and we are still have nothing to show for it, next time people must make their own choices without fear," he said.
Source - Byo24News
