VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says the Zanu PF government was facing serious challenges to secure relief food for the estimated 600 000 people in dire need of relief food.
BY SILAS NKALA
Mnangagwa made the remarks when he officially commissioned the Mtshabezi-Umzingwane pipeline in Mtshabezi, Matabeleland South on Saturday, a project which was undertaken by the government, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, and the Chinese contractor China Nanchang.
“I was talking to Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage minister Abednico Ncube, who said there is massive hunger here in Matabeleland South. The Constitution says everyone has a right to food, but we are not saying take us to court,” he said.
“We have secured 50 000 metric tonnes from Zambia and so far 16 000 metric tonnes is already in Bulawayo Silos. We have over 162 000 metric tonnes of maize now in the country and this will help us to avert hunger. The government is still going around other countries to seeking assistance so that people do not die of hunger.”
Mnangagwa added: “God placed us in different places and gave us languages to use to pray. If you start praying using the Chinese language God will take the rain to China as he knows that Chinese is spoken in China.”
The Vice-President said he visited Belarus recently assigned by President Robert Mugabe where he signed some deals and one of the deals signed enabled the government to secure $30 million which the government has allocated to Zinwa for dam construction projects.
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He said the pipeline would augment five other dams supplying water to Bulawayo.
Mnangagwa pledged to mobilise farming equipment for villagers in the area to enable them to start irrigation projects for self-sustenance.
“But this assistance does not come on its own. There are many who want such help and if you keep quiet you will not get it. We have irrigation equipment which we sourced from Brazil and we have given some to eight centres in Matabeleland South. As soon as you have started the projects government will assist,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri said when the project started in 2007 it was later stalled due to financial problems until it was re-launched in 2009 after the dollarisation.
