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Minister Mutsvangwa

Obert Chifamba Manicaland Bureau
MANICALAND Province should put recent political developments in the past, and focus on a new chapter that allows everybody to work as a team and develop the province, newly appointed Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Cde Mutsvangwa was addressing hundreds of people who gathered in Mutare from all over the province to welcome her after her new appointment recently.

The gathering included officials from Government departments, local authority representatives, war veterans, youths, residents of Mutare, uniformed forces, religious and traditional leaders, among others.

“Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, let us chart a way forward knowing fully well that the way we manage our politics has a telling effect on our destiny as a province,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

“We must not be vindictive towards those that wronged us in the past. I know many may feel they have scores to settle, but that is out of the question now.

“The purging that recently characterised the party is gone and we do not want to walk that route again. It kills development, as no investor will want to come to a nation at war with itself.

“Let’s work together as one people and build on the strength of national programmes such as Command Agriculture to resuscitate our economy.”

Cde Mutsvangwa said Command Agriculture had saved the country a lot of foreign currency through reduction in food imports, adding that the success of the programme was a result of adequate inputs and effective policy provisions.

She urged every farmer to aim for better results than last season.

“Our province is endowed with vast mineral deposits that go with abundant opportunities,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

“We have vast flora and fauna too. Coupled with good soils and a favourable climate, Manicaland has proved to be the best tourist destination, an opportunity that we should further exploit as well.

“There are also certain principles that we cannot reverse, for instance, the land reform because if we were to do so, we would be betraying those that perished after sacrificing their lives during the armed struggle to liberate the country and our access to the land resource.”

Cde Mutsvangwa also spoke against corruption, which she said should be declared a thing of the past in the province, as there would be a policy of zero-tolerance to the scourge.

“Where acts of corruption were reported, there should be swift justice applied without fear or favour,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

She urged Government offices to speedily and accurately provide answers to questions by citizens and investors so that there is a common purpose in the planning process, which is a good tonic for development.

Cde Mutsvangwa challenged the province to fight against the externalisation of foreign currency and smuggling of goods.

She said smuggling posed a big threat to the economy, as well as gave torrid moments to the country’s security institutions.