The long-mooted Zambezi water project which would help end water woes that have hindered the economic potential of the arid Matebeleland North and South provinces has failed to take off due to lack of funding.
Government recently claimed to have sealed multi-billion infrastructure development projects with the Chinese government including the construction of a new Parliament building.
PDP Secretary for Water Development and Management, Thomas Musurinofa, said conspicuously not discussed in the infrastructure deals between Beijing and Harare was the Zambezi Water Project.
“My heart bleeds when I encounter such disheartening information. Matabeleland North and South are running dry. Instead of pursuing unfinished business like the Zambezi Water Project for the people of the Matabeleland regions,†Musurinofa said in a statement Tuesday.
“What a waste of taxpayers’ money. The (Zambezi) project is being stalled on political grounds by some tribalists because it was spearheaded by former Zanu PF nemesis and Zapu stalwarts like the iconic Dumiso Dabengwa.â€
He added that President Robert Mugabe’s government was effectively condemning people in the Matebelaland regions death by not solving the water supply problems.
“The Zanu PF government (is) insensitive to our pleas, problems or issues,†he said.
“It would appear as though the insensitive regime is deliberately sentencing the people of Matabeleland to death by prioritising construction of a new Parliament Building.
“But to deny a person water is to disconnect that person’s life because water is life.
“The fundamental vitality of water should be seen in its functional needs as a source of food, source of health and source of energy.â€
The government needs to get its priorities right, the PDP official added.
Post published in: Agriculture
ZPF is all about smoke and mirrors. Why build a new parliament when the old one doesn’t even do what it is supposed to do. Why not buy a big rubber stamp because that’s all the existing parliament does, it would cost far less and deliver the same outcomes. As for water for Matebeland, there will never be a pipeline because governments plan is to slowly kill that part of the country. The government has been consistent with its priorities, enrich the ruling elite and keep the poor, poor and dependent on meagre handouts. Mao did it and so did Stalin. The ZPF government is primitive and will never take the country forward because it chooses to selfishly exist in the past.