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Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter—
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday urged Bulawayo residents to embrace government empowerment projects. The VP told Nketa residents that President Mugabe is working tirelessly to promote self-reliance in the country. He said his when he handed over 4,000 chicks for a poultry project set to benefit hundreds of families in the suburb.

“I can’t waste my time on people who are content with their lives. There are people in Mukumbura (Mashonaland Central) who need such kind of projects but we have people here taking these things for granted,” said VP Mphoko.

“I’m not a Vice President for Area five or Matabeleland but for the whole country. Therefore everyone countrywide is looking forward to us giving them such capital”.

He said Bulawayo residents should embrace the opportunity and make it work for themselves, instead of crying foul when such aid moves to other parts of the country.

“The President is having sleepless nights and you take such projects for granted, why lisenza ulunya so? (Why are you being so cruel?)” the VP asked, saying some people often derailed such programmes.

VP Mphoko said no other party in the country had the interests of the people at heart and Nketa residents must not be swayed by such elements into derailing Zanu PF development projects.

Yesterday’s donation follows another held two weeks ago where 3,000 chicks were handed over to Ward 24 residents.

Yesterday, 10 groups from Ward 25 received the chicks at a function attended by the Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial leadership led by Chairperson Cde Dennis Ndlovu, Politburo member Cde Absalom Sikhosana, Council of Elders member Cde George Mlala among other central committee and national executive members from the city and other provinces.

VP Mphoko said the beneficiaries would be assisted with stock feed as well as lessons on how to take care of the chicks. Soon after the donation, VP Mphoko officiated at a ground breaking ceremony of Gogo Rachel Medical Village at another area in Nketa 9.

The memorial village construction, named after the late Vice President Joseph Msika’s mother Gogo Rachel Msika nee Mlambo, is led by the Msika family and the Mbuya Mlambo Memorial Trust board.

VP Mphoko said the idea to have such a clinic was first mooted by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo and taken over by the late VPs Msika and John Nkomo. He said such initiatives complemented government efforts of making health institutions accessible to all.

Speaking at the same function, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said: “This is going to be a very big medical village and we always support any expansion particularly of health facilities. This is going to be a specialist hospital because we have other hospitals doing almost the same thing in the same radius”.

Mr Jameson Msika, son to the late VP Msika, said their vision is to have health services accessible to both the elite and the masses. “I always wondered why we’ve people going out of the country to India and other countries to seek medical attention and I asked myself why.

‘‘This is the answer that I have, that we must have a specialist hospital here in the high density suburbs,” said Mr Msika.

He said the area, measuring 60,000 square metres, would see the construction of a hospital, rehabilitation centre, recreational facilities for children and a residential place for pastors who will be offering counselling services. “Construction will commence in September. We’ve banks that are backing us. They were waiting for this ground breaking ceremony and now that it’s done, work can begin,” Mr Msika said.

He said a big statue of his late father would be erected at the facility.