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Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa (second from left) listens as Engineer Tawanda Gozo explains processes at Bushmead Water Works in Masvingo yesterday. He is flanked by Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education Josiah Hungwe(left), Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere(third from left), Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo (partly obscured). — Picture by George Maponga

George Maponga in Masvingo
Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday warned that Government was prepared to deal with some elements in private and public sectors that were fuelling corruption in the country.

Speaking at Mamutse Stadium in Masvingo after commissioning the $4,8 million Urgent Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation project bankrolled by the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Fund (Zim-Fund), the Acting President issued a strong warning against abuse of donor funds.

He said every cent should be accounted for if Zimbabwe was to receive more assistance to tackle various challenges.

The Acting President said Government was prepared to smoke out corrupt elements in the private sector as the vice posed serious threat to ongoing efforts to engender socio-economic development through Zim-Asset.

“On the issue of corruption, I want to make it very clear that as Government, we do not want corruption. We do not condone corruption, be it in the public sector or in the private sector.

“The current Zanu-PF Government is determined to end corruption and we will make sure that all corrupt elements are rooted out,’’ he said.

“We closely monitor the situation in the public sector to weed out corrupt elements and we also do the same in the private sector so all the corrupt elements have nowhere to hide,’’he said.

Acting President Mnangagwa said Government would not hesitate to punish those who abused donor funds.

“If our co-operating partners discover that every cent of the money they would have donated has been put to good use, they will continue to assist us to plug our developmental challenges, but if they discover that their funds have been ambushed by corrupt officials, they will stop providing assistance,’’ said the Acting President.

Zimbabwe was prepared to work closely with Western countries that provided developmental assistance and not “bully” nations that were bent on oppressing and perpetuating neo-imperialism.

“Issues of water provision and sanitation are very critical to our country as they will also benefit our children and as a country we should also take time to unite around issues that bring development to our nation,’’he said.

Cde Mnangagwa took a dig at the opposition parties in the country for being pre-occupied with cheap political issues to the detriment of development.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said discharge of raw effluent into rivers, which posed serious threat to human and aquatic life in major cities, would be greatly reduced after completion of the water supply and sanitation rehabilitation programme.

Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said the programme would improve water supply in Masvingo City, with daily supply rising from 24 mega-litres to 30 mega-litres per day.

Speaking at the same event, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said Zim-Fund was launched five years ago in response to an outbreak of cholera that claimed about 4 000 people in Zimbabwe.

He said the cities of Masvingo, Harare, Chitungwiza, Chegutu, Kwekwe and Mutare would benefit under the water supply and sanitation rehabilitation programme.

African Development Bank Zimbabwe Country Office resident representative, Mr Mateus Magala, said Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom poured $145 million into the Zim-Fund.

Acting President Mnangagwa first toured Rujeko Sewer pump station and the Bushmead water treatment plant on the shores of Lake Mutirikwi where rehabilitation and expansion work was carried using money from the Zim-Fund.