Prof Moyo slams Nkomo over water project
By: TC-tzg
Posted: Monday, March 22, 2010 1:29 pm
THE Minister of Water Resources and Development, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, has nothing to do in his office and has found a toy to play with in the form of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP), a senior Zanu-PF official has said.
Speaking in Nyamandlovu on Saturday, Zanu-PF Central Committee member, Professor Jonathan Moyo, attacked the minister, saying that the confusion surrounding the water project showed that he (Minister Nkomo) was involved in “cheap politicking” to gain political mileage out of the water project.
“With all due respect to him, Minister Sipepa Nkomo has nothing to do in his office and has found a toy to play with in the form of NMZWP,” said Prof Moyo, who is also the Member of the House of Assembly for Tsholotsho North Constituency.
“Minister Nkomo is not bringing any new ideas to the water project. He has not proposed anything new in terms of bringing water to the people.”
Mr Nkomo yesterday declined comment on Prof Moyo’s sentiments.
Prof Moyo said that it did not matter who was in control of the water project, but what was of real importance was bringing water to the people.
“It really does not matter who owns the project but what people should concentrate on are the strategies that will bring the water to the people in the quickest way possible,” he said.
Prof Moyo’s sentiments come following reports of confusion surrounding the audit of NMZWP with Mr Nkomo and the trust's officials giving conflicting statements last week.
Mr Nkomo told a meeting in Victoria Falls on Thursday that the audit had commenced but the chairman of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust (MZWT), Mr Dumiso Dabengwa, denied that the auditors were already checking their accounts.
Mr Nkomo said the audit comes at a time when the Government was pressing on with its intention of taking over the project from MZWT headed by the former Home Affairs Minister and Zapu interim chairman, Dr Dabengwa.
Addressing Victoria Falls councillors and officials from Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and local councillors at the Victoria Falls boardroom, Mr Nkomo said the Comptroller and Auditor-General had begun the NMZWP audit and results were expected soon.
However, on Friday, Dr Dabengwa professed ignorance over the purported audit of the NMZWP. Officials at the trust's offices also said no auditors had been to their offices. Mr Nkomo said all the funds released to the project should be accounted for and if a cent was missing, justice would take its course.
He said Mr Dabengwa and members of staff at MZWT were correct to say they had not seen any auditors in their offices as they are expected in the city today.
“The Comptroller and Auditor- General are likely to arrive in Bulawayo tomorrow (today) to start the auditing process,” said Minister Nkomo, stating how long the audit would take.
Labels: JONATHAN MOYO, NATIONAL MATABELELAND ZAMBEZI WATER PROJECT, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO
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Government proceeds with MZWP takeover
by
23/01/2010 00:00:00
THE Government has reaffirmed its takeover of the Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) with water resources Minister, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo announcing that the scheme has now been renamed and consultants appointed to lead public consultations the mobilisation of funds.
Nkomo called a press conference in Bulawayo on Friday where he announced that the government is proceeding with the takeover of the project which has now been renamed the National Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP).
“This (renaming) was done to underscore the fact that this is a national project in Matabeleland and thus should be called as such. Even so, in the long term the project will not only benefit Matabeleland but other parts of the country as well,” Nkomo said.
The Minister said the decision to take-over the project was made back in 2004 adding the December 2009 cabinet resolution merely reaffirmed that position.
“Therefore, there is nothing new in the takeover and all that my Ministry is doing is to implement the aforementioned cabinet resolution.
“Government leadership and management of the NMZWP is a purely people oriented, apolitical stance whose rationale is to ensure a consistent supply of water to the people of Matabeleland,” Nkomo said.
He added that his Ministry has appointed Pathisa Nyathi NMZWP consultant whose brief would be to facilitate “stakeholder consultations” over the project.
“As part of his duties, Nyathi will be liaising with the business sector, civil society, churches, local authorities, residents and other stakeholders for the purpose of building a strong stakeholders network that will be involved in the implementation of the NMZWP.
“The NMZWP is a big financial and human resource project and thus requires a clearly coordinated network of individuals and institutions to steer it to its very end,” Nkomo said adding that yet another consultant had also been appointed to spear-head the mobilisation of funds for the project.
Government estimates that about US$1.1 billion will be needed to complete phases 1, 2 and 3 of the project which involve the construction of the Gwayi/Tshangani Dam, laying of a pipeline from Gwayi/Tshangani Dam to Bulawayo and the connection of the Gwayi/Tshangani Dam to the Zambezi River.
“The NMZWP is not just about water provision; it will also act as a catalyst for tourism expansion, property development and the growth of agriculture in Matabeleland.
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“Over 60 000 new jobs in and around the project area will be created. Projects such as fishery, mining, manufacturing, market gardening, sugarcane production, cattle ranching and meat processing, timber production and citrus fruits farming can be engaged in by private individuals, corporate companies and other riparian states,” Nkomo said
However the announcement by Nkomo last December that the government was taking over the project sparked-off a huge row between the Minister and Matebeleland Zambezi Water Trust Chairman and opposition PF Zapu leader, Dumiso Dabengwa who said his organisation had not been consulted.
Dabengwa’s Trust is accused of failing to mobilise funds for the project but the former cabinet minister counters that his efforts have been undermined by the government.
The Trust said it had found potential funders for the project in the past, but the investors were forced to pull out after the government failed to provide the mandatory guarantees, “causing all our plans to fail”.
Labels: MATABELELAND ZAMBEZI WATER PROJECT, NATIONAL MATABELELAND ZAMBEZI WATER PROJECT, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO
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Tsvangirai should sack Nkomo, Holland
Madluphuthu Khumalo - Opinion
Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:41:00 +0000
I DO not know if there is anyone who was surprised to read about Minister Sipepa Nkomo of MDC-T insulting and denigrating our national hero, the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, recently.
That is MDC-T for you. The party consists of political opportunists who sing the empty “Mugabe must go” rhetoric without any tangible solution thereafter. It is well known that when MDC split in October 2005, Sipepa Nkomo remained with the party, the MDC faction led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, when
Tsvangirai took his jacket and left the party with his bootlickers and kitchen cabinet.
Sipepa Nkomo even contested for the senatorial seat in Tsholotsho on an MDC ticket only to be thrashed by a Zanu PF candidate. He then defected to MDC-T.
I must say that having many political parties in Matabeleland is not enhancing democracy in this region, because it divides our leadership on party lines. So some of our leaders such as Prof Welshman Ncube, Dumiso Dabengwa, Gibson Sibanda, Joshua Malinga, Paul Themba-Nyathi, Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, just to mention a few, would not work together for the betterment of Matabeleland.
But for Sipepa Nkomo to insult Father Zimbabwe and pretend to be representing Matabeleland is an insult and an embarrassment. Even if we admit that Matabeleland region does not need many political parties, MDC-T is not a political party with Matabeleland people at heart; therefore we do not need it.
How many politicians worth their salt are in MDC-T Matabeleland region? Truly speaking they are all turncoats who were either defeated in internal party elections in MDC or were facing disciplinary action, and later defected to MDC-T to avoid embarrassment or sanctions.
MDC-T’s agenda is to destroy Matabeleland’s culture and heritage. It all started with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai himself when people of Matabeleland were complaining that civil servants, especially teachers, deployed in primary schools should be locals to avoid language barriers.
He accused people of Matabeleland of wanting to remain being “villagers” and in “paddocks” and he said there was nothing wrong with people learning local languages and working anywhere in the country. Unfortunately he himself cannot speak isiNdebele. Matabeleland people were simply saying that their young children should be taught by people who understand their languages and culture.
Secondly when Minister Sekai Holland insulted our King Mzilikazi, Sipepa Nkomo and other MDC-T politicians from Matabeleland remained quiet, so that they do not anger their principal who appointed them into Cabinet. If they respect the people of Matabeleland who they purport to represent, they were supposed to protest there and then to PM Tsvangirai to fire Minister Holland without delay.
But unfortunately some people from this region are the ones who walk at night like witches and wizards to console Minister Holland, giving her advice that she must not apologise for her unbecoming remarks on our king but remain mum.
Some of them, together with their surrogates have, I am told, even written letters to PM Tsvangirai giving him the so-called legal advice against firing Sekai Holland. What legal advice?
A minister can be dropped and replaced any minute without any problems. There will not be any legal complications if PM Tsvangirai, as the Prime Minister, advises President Mugabe, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, that they are withdrawing Minister Holland from the Government and replacing her with somebody else.
The President would only make an announcement as a formality. Anyway whose interest is she serving by insulting our king? What national healing is she promoting by insulting other people? She is not fit to be a minister, moreso of National Healing.
Therefore one would be forgiven for saying MDC-T is a political accident made into being by people’s anger and would not offer anything to Matabeleland. MDC-T politicians are a bunch of opportunists who accuse Zanu-PF of “wrongdoing” but at the same time are not clean themselves.
One recent event highlights that. A few of the Prime Minister’s closest aides recently amended their party constitution in luxurious offices to remove the restrictions on presidential terms, thereby giving PM Tsvangirai an effective life presidency. It is very sad especially coming from a party which says it is bringing a “new order on good governance” to the country.
In countries which practise democracy and good governance both Ministers Holland and Sipepa Nkomo would have resigned from government for vomiting their poisonous venom in public although we know that it is in fact, their way of thinking.
Some of the MDC-T ministers also tell journalists not to bother them on weekends and after working hours because they would be “off-duty”, enjoying themselves.
What an insult! A public servant who was elected by the people, now telling them not to bother him with issues affecting them, especially health matters! For sure MDC-T is a political accident not a political party.
As Matabeleland people, we demand that PM Tsvangirai remove both Ministers Holland and Sipepa Nkomo as ministers because they are a disgrace to the nation.
Also the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera, should be cautioned for telling journalists not to seek comment from him during weekends because, according to him, he would be off-duty.
He must be reminded that as long as one is a public servant, off-days and weekends are a luxury the country cannot afford for now and forever.
May people of Zimbabwe respect our heroes such as Mzilikazi, Lobengula and Joshua Nkomo. As people of Matabeleland, we are here because of them; therefore let us not insult them to solicit favours from other people. - The Chronicle
Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO, SEKAI HOLLAND
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Minister bungles Harare water deal
TZG/TH reporters
Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:54:00 +0000
A CABINET minister from the MDC formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is at the centre of bureaucratic bungling and flouting of laid-down tender procedures that has caused delays in fixing Harare’s water and sewer situation, according to reports from Harare.
The Wednesday edition of the Herald newspaper claims that Water Resources Development and Management Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo
"entered into an agreement worth over US$20 million for the rehabilitation of Harare’s water and sewer systems with a South African company, Engineering and Electrical Supplies, without going to tender as required, and the deal has since collapsed."
Minister Nkomo is said to have confirmed the deal was practically "dead in the water" after Cabinet rejected it because he had not followed proper procedures.
"It was supposed to go through tender, but it did not. The deal was signed, but we later decided that it should now be done by the City of Harare," reported the daily.
"Engineering and Electrical Supplies are now out of the question.
"We have agreed to let tendering and all other things go through. We had not done any tendering when we struck the deal. We thought it was going to be alright,’’ admitted Minister Nkomo to Cabinet.
Despite this admission, Nkomo is said to have blamed the collapse of the deal on the politics plaguing Harare Water.
"Some of these things get politicised. Harare is not an easy place," Minister Nkomo was reported as saying.
Minister Nkomo is reported as having told the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development that the South African company was going to rehabilitate the water and sewer system at no cost to Government and the City of Harare.
"Yet, according to the Memorandum of Understanding, Engineering and Electrical Supplies would provide 'a 90-day credit facility' for the acquisition of material for the rehabilitation of the water and sewerage system.
"The MoU states that Minister Nkomo’s ministry would ensure payment to Engineering and Electrical Supplies after the 90-day period and either party could terminate the agreement upon six months’ written notification to the other party.
"Unless otherwise specifically agreed by the parties, termination shall not affect the validity of any ongoing activities not fully completed at the time of termination," reads the MoU.
In a letter to Minister Chombo on May 21, Minister Nkomo said the deal would cost neither Government nor the City of Harare a cent.
"So far, they are the only contractor who have agreed to finance their intervention upfront.
"In order to tie the two parties down, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 8th of May 2009 and a work programme for Harare Water and Sewer developed immediately thereafter with the involvement of city council engineers and Zinwa.
"However, as you know, as Government, we currently have no money. So this initiative shall be implemented through donations," Minister Nkomo wrote.
Minister Chombo later responded expressing his appreciation that his counterpart had struck a deal at no cost to Government and council.
He, however, demanded details of the donor, scope of donation, circumstances surrounding the donation and the contractor and rationale "for selection thereof".
"It pleases me, Honourable Minister, to note that your ministry has mobilised the following resources: rehabilitation of water supplies — US$7,780 million and rehabilitation of sewerage works US$13,160 million in favour of the City of Harare," wrote Minister Ignatius Chombo on May 19.
He added: "I am even more delighted to learn that the funds have been sourced at no cost to council nor to the Government of Zimbabwe."
Minister Chombo assured Minister Nkomo that the City of Harare "will without prevarication co-operate in this matter".
However, Minister Nkomo later wrote to Finance Minister Tendai Biti seeking funding for the same deal.
"Following my recent working visit to the Republic of South Africa, I am glad to inform you that my ministry has already signed an MoU with Engineering and Electrical Supplies.
"This is a South African company willing to advance us a soft loan on a 40-day cycle in order to attend to the water sector.
"This will be their contribution to the cholera control efforts. As we pay them, the company is willing to plough back that money so that more is done in the water sector starting with some parts of Harare . . . They will start with a sum of four million rand.
"The loan component is a responsibility of your ministry. Ministry of Water, through Zinwa and the local authorities, will supervise the physical implementation of the programme," he said.
Minister Nkomo told Minister Biti that the company followed the fix-and-supply approach by assessing the scope of works, procuring the required material and then using its own company or sub-contractor to do "the job under our supervision".
He said the company wanted to minimise delays and his ministry agreed with the approach "because of the need to move fast".
Minister Nkomo indicated that work on the Harare water and sewer infrastructure had already started, yet high frequency sewer blockages, leakages, overloaded sewers and shortage of running water continue to expose Harare residents to health risks.
CLASH WITH MAYOR
Meanwhile, Minister Nkomo has recently clashed with the Mayor of Harare, Muchadeyi Masunda.
He has declared ironically that: “I am the authority on water. It does not matter who delivers it.” The minister was contending that residents do not have to pay the bills they have been saddled with by the Harare municipality.
Nkomo's comments prompted one commentator to write:
"Does that mean he can go to the shores of Lake Chivero and command the waters to rise, purify themselves and flow by themselves to the taps of Harare? If he can’t do that then what are the practical considerations he has made to ensure water supply for Harare.
"The water has to be purified at a cost, stored at a cost and pumped to the consumers at a cost. The mere fact that Nkomo has authority does not meet costs. Therefore his declaration that he is the authority is not relevant to the practical considerations of purifying and pumping Harare’s water."
Labels: HARARE, MAYOR, MDC, MUCHADEYI MASUNDA, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO
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