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Zanu-PF Secretary for Production and Labour who is also Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire hands over a generator to best farmer in Mangwe District, Mkhulunyelwa Nkomo and his wife Sizalobuhle during an Agricultural Productivity Promotion field day on Saturday, while politburo member, Cde Richard Ndlovu (left, foreground) and Chief Wasi look on

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THIEVING government officials are forcing the country to import major goods and services as they misappropriate resources to enrich themselves, a senior official has said. Zanu-PF Secretary for Production and Labour, Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire told farmers and government officials at an Agricultural Productivity Promotion field day held at Mkhulunyelwa Nkomo’s homestead in Mangwe District on Saturday, that graft was the major ailment derailing the economy.
He said with transparency, the country would produce more than enough for its needs.

“We have a number of thieves in the country and the major culprits are government officials who are also not carrying out their duties and some of them are not being transparent,” said Cde Mavhaire.

He said there was lack of progress in restocking the national herd as police were clearing cattle which were not branded, contrary to laid down procedure, thereby abetting rustlers.
Cde Mavhaire said local authorities were making a lot of money through selling stray cattle while doing little towards improving the growth of the national herd.

“If this situation is reversed then this syndrome of being dependant on imports will end,” said Cde Mavhaire, who is also the Minister of Energy and Power Development.
“There are a lot of resources in each district and government officials should ensure that these are properly administered. There is livestock in Mangwe but most of the cattle are lost to private buyers.

“Yet as government we would be expecting local authorities to organise cattle sales where they can be guaranteed a certain percentage from each beast that is sold which will in turn benefit government. If this is not done then it means only a few unscrupulous individuals will be benefiting from our resources,” said Mavhaire.
He said the country would realise huge profits if community members were educated on how to manage their resources.

“The government is paying its workers salaries every month so that they work. Those relevant departments should ensure that the people receive the knowledge they can use to fully utilise their resources.

“The education which community members need is that which can help them double or even increase the resources they have and in the process realise profits for themselves. If people realise profits then it means that government will benefit as well,” he said.

Cde Mavhaire said government departments had a task to make significant contributions in reviving the economy, through ensuring that resources in all districts were properly channelled.

Cde Mavhaire said some government departments were stalling efforts by government to develop the nation by sleeping on duty.
He said the nation had the potential to produce a surplus of its own goods of high quality.
In reference to livestock farming Mavhaire pointed out that most parts of the country had poor breeds.

“Mangwe District remains tops in livestock production but there is still room for improvement because you can even do better. It is disturbing that most of the cattle in this country are poor breeds.

“Matabeleland South and North Provinces have a total of 1,3 million cattle collectively while Masvingo Province has one million. This might seem like a huge number but the livestock is in a poor state in Masvingo. A beast in Matabeleland Provinces is worth three in Masvingo,” he said.

Mavhaire said government was focusing on building the national herd which was a critical move in developing the economy.
Some government department workers from Mangwe District who attended the meeting pointed out that their greatest challenges were poor responses from community members, resource constraints and poor staff complements which hindered them from covering the whole district.