04 December 2021
Prosperity Sikhosana
President Emmerson Mnangagwa kept his supporters waiting for him approximately five hours at yesterday’s cleanup campaign address.
The President took to the podium to a sizeable cheering Zanu-PF crowd that had been entertained by the Police Band tuning out local Sungura music.
Most of the bussed supporters were under tent shed while the rest had been sun bathed for the hours they waited for their Party leader.
Mnangagwa was in the City of Kings and Queens for the third anniversary of the clean up campaign that was mooted by the First Lady to promote cleanliness.
Before the President addressed the crowd at Barbourfields Stadium he cleaned at Mzilikazi Shopping Centre.
When ED Mnangagwa took to the podium, he touched on many issues amongst them the Devolution Funds, the Gwayi-Shangani dam, the measures taken to curb the spread of recently discovered Omicron variant of the Corona virus. He touched on the Conference on Parties (COP26) that was held in Glasgow where he took a contingent of over 100 people.
And, indeed, he spoke about the clean up campaign where he agreed with the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Bulawayo that Bulawayo City is the cleanest City in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s Devolution Fund is largely built on the economic development of areas through their provincial government councils.
It was promulgated through the 2013 Constitution so as to disseminate funds to Provinces for the development of the particular areas.
“The Devolution Fund as proposed by Hon. Mthuli Ncube, for 2022 is ZWL$43 billion compared to last year’s which was ZWL19.5 billion…”
“This means that each province in Zimbabwe will get ZWL$4.3 billion for their development. “
President Mnangagwa explaines that before, Central Government would discuss how development in provinces was to be achieved, but that has since changed now and government simply allocates the Devolution Funds then its up to the Provincial Council to determine how the funds will be used to develop the area.
“Gwanda must discuss the development it needs, not the state,” continued the president.
Mnangagwa further noted that in order for a province to develop, it needs to come up with programs such as the Clean Up Campaign.
“It is my singular honour to join the people of Bulawayo as we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the National Clean Up Day Programme.
“The initiative launched in 2018 seeks to inculcate a culture of cleanliness, including at household level, as we move towards a prosperous and empowered middle income society by 2030,” stated the president.
Recognising the cleanliness in Bulawayo, the President agreed it was the cleanest city in the country.
Bulawayo Solid Waste Management BSWIP, an offspring of the Bulawayo City Council showcased the spearheading of clean up campaigns embarked in the city.
Delta Beverages took responsibility for the aftermath of their plastic products and worked in collaboration with BSWIP, that privatised waste collection, engaged with community groups to pick and process waste.
Most plastic containers are recycled to make different other products.
This in turn created and is still creating jobs, cleanes the city and ensures waste reduction through recycling.
An individual by the name Auto Jiri, has been making a living through use of old car tyres, wood and twine to manufacture chairs, tables and vases to mention a few.
In a bid to explain some of the resolutions of COP26 the president said:
“Before I explain Green energy, on the 1st and 2nd of November we attended the COP26, which has 193 countries.”
In the conference, he notes, there are developed countries that damaged our climate through coal smoke to fire industries.
He notes,
“Climate change has been brought by them (the Industrialised countries) through coal smoke, (this) brought climate change, drought and are the reason for what happened in Chimanimani and Chipinge which were hit by droughts and storms. The industrialised countries have decided that we should not use coal, but we said no, first give us money to develop our countries first then we will do away with coal, after that we will go for green energy.”
This, he notes is more solar energy than fossil.
The President claims developed countries have already made money hence they managed to transition from fossil power to green energy thus in order for Zimbabwe to follow suit, the developed countries have to raise US$100 billion to fund the programme.
“If they don’t, we continue with our coal. We can’t be in a country without electricity,” said the president.
“On another crucial issue that we need to address as a means of development is the water crisis in Bulawayo.”
He expressed that water is going to be addressed by 2022 this time through the pipeline that is being laid to bring water from the still under construction Shangani-Gwayi dam.
This will provide water and create jobs for the people of Bulawayo.
“Other dams will be upgraded as well so that enough water is supplied to Bulawayo.”
President Mnangagwa further stated the concern on the the Omicron Variant that has been discovered in South Africa and Botswana.
He encouraged the continued washing of hands, sanitising and social distancing.
On the vaccines, the president encouraged those that have had 2 doses to go and get a 3rd dose if they feel the need to.
With that he urged the public to not only keep their city clean, but its people as well.
“All religious leaders, members of Parliament, traditional healers and the general public are advised to maintain the cleanliness of the city through taking part in these clean up campaigns,” encouraged the president.
“All waste is supposed to be collected by City Council.”
He proposed the continued cleanliness of the city with everyone taking part in all clean up activities.
Zim GBC News