Zimpapers Logo

Cde Cain Mathema

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
PREPARATIONS for the 21st February Movement to celebrate President Mugabe’s 91st birthday are on course with Matabeleland North provincial minister Cde Cain Mathema yesterday calling on local authorities to give support towards hosting of the  event.The celebrations are slated for Victoria Falls and Cde Mathema said they were yet to finalise the venue.

Addressing a meeting of local authorities from his province at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, Cde Mathema said the local authorities should take part in the prestigious event.

“The preparations are going on well; it’s a priviledge to host His Excellency’s birthday and I’m therefore calling on you local authorities to be active, all of us must play a role to ensure the event is a success,” said Cde Mathema.

He said they had written letters to all district administrators in the province seeking assistance for the celebrations.

“On Sunday we had a meeting with all government departments in Lupane, and I can safely say the      province is ready to host the President,” said Cde Mathema.

Meanwhile, Cde Mathema urged the councillors  to assist their residents and farmers to get title  deeds in line with Zim-Asset as a way of empowering them.

“Many shop owners in our districts don’t have title deeds for their businesses, most of our banks are British owned and they demand title deeds in order for the farmers and shop owners to access loans and sadly many of them don’t have,” he said.

He pleaded with the council officials to work together with his office to facilitate the processing of house ownership documents.

“I’m asking you councillors in Mat North to assist our people to get out of subsistence farming as well as running small retail shops.

“My office is open to everyone to come in and we map the way forward,” he said.

Cde Mathema highlighted that the province was the only one without a teacher training college,  vocational training centre as well as a polytechnic college.

“I’m asking my councils to think where that college can be located in the province, we’ve to have a primary and secondary teacher training college somewhere and it’s your duty to decide  where,” he said.

The meeting was attended by council officials from Bubi, Umguza, Hwange, Kusile, Lupane, Nkayi and Tsholotsho rural district councils.