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(HERALD) Stop mourning, do something: Msipa

Stop mourning, do something: Msipa
Thursday, 30 June 2011 01:00
Bulawayo Bureau

PEOPLE from Matabeleland should not mourn about their situation but instead take part in developing their area, Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Cephas Msipa has said.

Adding his voice to the debate on the marginalisation of Matabeleland, Cde Msipa urged people from the region to participate in the indigenisation campaign, but indicated that other provinces were also facing development challenges similar to Matabeleland.

In an interview in Gweru on Sunday, Cde Msipa, a former Midlands Provincial Governor said people from Matabeleland should stop mourning about the marginalisation of the region, but instead, take the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme as the best chance for them to develop the region. Cde Msipa said people from Matabeleland region should make sure that they actively participate in the ongoing indigenisation and economic empowerment programme to make sure that they actively take part in the development of the region.

He said decentralisation was also the only way to go, dismissing calls to make the region a separate state as "nonsensical."

"There has been heated talk of Matabeleland region with some people from the region complaining that the region is marginalised more than any other province in the country. Yes it's a fact that each province in the country's 10 provinces is more or less different from the other in as far as resources are concerned. In light of this, Government has the responsibility to see that these resources are equitably distributed to all the provinces.

I am, however, of the view that the people from Matabeleland should stop mourning about their situation and take this ongoing indigenisation and economic empowerment programme as the stepping stone towards active participation in developing the region," he said.

Vice President John Landa Nkomo, contributing to the debate, recently challenged people from the region to make sure that they "add value" to the development of the region and "stop singing the marginalisation chorus".

VP Nkomo has also preferred to refer to the problems facing the region as "marginalisation" but rather preferred to address the situation as "delayed success".
Cde Msipa said the focus of marginalisation should not be on Matabeleland region only as if everything was normal in other provinces around the country.

"Those who have raised the alarm from the Matabeleland region should not assume that everything is normal in other provinces. Yes, the continuous closure of companies that are relocating to Harare might have a bigger impact in Matabeleland and Bulawayo because Bulawayo is the second largest city in the country.

"This problem is, however, in every province and if you talk of the Midlands province, three is no industry ticking at the present moment, talk of the giant Zvishavane asbestos mine, Ziscosteel in Redcliff and Zim Alloys in Gweru, nothing is showing there," he said.

Cde Msipa said Midlands province used to have a strong industrial base, but has now seen a dramatic fall with many companies closing.

"Over five thousand people at Shabanie mine alone have so far lost jobs in the province. In Gweru there is a joke now that the popular Mtapa cemetery has extended to the industry the same is in Masvingo province and there is really a serious need for Government to see to it that the economy's industry gets back on track. This should ,however, be looked on at a broader perspective than isolating regions or provinces as this will not help us as Zimbabweans," he said.

The former provincial Governor said there was also a need for the speeding up of the decentralisation process.

"We cannot continue to have everything being done in Harare in as far as the public and private sector as are concerned. You go to a bank today seeking urgent assistance you will be referred to Harare.

This is the same with government offices and we cant develop as a nation if we continue to say everything, whether it is in the private or public sector should be done in Harare as if Harare is everything," he said.

Cde Msipa said the call for secession of Matabeleland region by the Mthwakazi Liberation Front was nonsensical and described those who were behind the idea as "daydreamers".

"I find it even a waste of time and stupid top comment on this because it's nonsensical to comment on things that are being said by people when they are desperately seeking attention. We are better united as a nation than divided," he said.

Cde Msipa each province and region had its strengths and weaknesses and the country could only develop when provinces and regions complement each other.

"In the Midlands for example there are a lot of minerals , in Mashonaland central they thrive on farming and the produce there is very good. If we combine all and try to develop our nation, we will build a better

Zimbabwe than we would when divided and separated," he said.

Labels: DECENTRALIZATION, MATABELELAND NORTH, MATABELELAND SOUTH

posted by MrK @ 3:13 PM