The Sunday News
Belinda Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
ZANU-PF Senator for Matabeleland South Cde Themba Mathuthu has applauded the Government’s initiative on devolution of power as a form of administrative decentralisation that will ensure development of districts.
The Government is working on modalities towards the implementation of devolution that would see provinces running their respective economies.
Speaking on the sidelines of Umzingwane Stakeholders conference hosted by the Member of Parliament for Umzingwane Constituency Cde Brigadier General Retired Levi Mayihlome at Esikhoveni Centre yesterday, Cde Mathuthu said devolution of power was a wheel towards development and people’s empowerment.
“It is a good thing that we are gathered here today to ensure the mantra of devolution of power that is always preached about by the President is implemented in this constituency. Devolution of power is a move towards development and empowerment.
Gone are the days when we used to watch people extracting minerals from our community and developing another community, this is a new era, a new dispensation where we are going to see the development of Umzingwane and the empowerment of its people, empowerment in terms of independence where they can develop themselves without leaning on anyone, the dependency syndrome is over. Now we work to better ourselves without waiting for anyone,” he said.
He said that the implementation of devolution of power in Umzingwane will guarantee equal distribution of resources to enrich everyone in the district.
“We are looking forward that with this decentralisation, especially at Umzingwane, the cake will be shared equally to all wards and enrich every Umzingwane children, I mean everyone born in Umzingwane shall benefit from all the resources the district.
This is a very rich district, tourist attraction, gold is mined in this district, and some of the water that is used in Bulawayo is from Mzingwane dam but Umzingwane district lies helpless and underdeveloped and poor. So decentralisation will ensure that all these resources are utilized to develop this district as the district will be able to finance itself,” said Cde Mathuthu.
The Umzingwane district is popularly known for its socio-economic dynamics where people flock from different areas in search for gold as well as exploiting the good soils for agriculture.
Addressing the same community, Cde Mayihlome urged Umzingwane people to be involved in the development of the constituency.
He outlined his vision in partnering people from different stakes to ensure development is reached.
“The purpose of my brief today is for us to have an idea chart, we have to utilise every resource and the idea is to have to better of Umzingwane, from Agriculture, tourism, mining and ICTs,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the ruling party members, councillors, traditional leaders, business people, civil servants, farmers and state enterprises, among others. Cde Mayihlome is championing the launch and success of the Umzingwane Development Trust, which will be a development vehicle in the constituency.
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