Water activist Payne dies

ARNOLD PAYNE
Bongani Ndlovu Chronicle Correspondent

VETERAN water activist Arnold Payne has died. He was 74. Payne who in 1992, pushed a wheelbarrow carrying 210 litres of water from the Zambezi River to Bulawayo and then Gwanda in a lone campaign for the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, died yesterday. When Payne arrived in Gwanda he emptied the drum and then continued his journey with an empty wheelbarrow to parliament in Harare. Payne’s plates, cups, clothing and vehicle were inscribed with the words Zambezi Water for Matabeleland.

Senior Minister of State, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said he was deeply saddened by Payne’s death and described him as a community leader who had the people’s interest at heart.

“I want to express my deepest condolences to the Payne family on Arnold’s death. I wish his family staying power and rest during this time of distress. May his soul anchor and rest in eternal peace,” he said.

Former Minister of Water Resources Management and Development Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said he was saddened because Payne died without realising his dream.
Last year, Payne was quoted in the media saying: “I pray to God that I should not die until the Zambezi water project is completed.”

Dr Nkomo said: “I had hoped that in his life time he would realise his dream of having water drawn to Bulawayo from the Zambezi River. It’s unfortunate that dream was not realised and I am deeply saddened by that.”

Former Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust chairman Dumiso Dabengwa said he was shocked to learn of Payne’s death.
He described the late activist as “a man who was determined to see the water project bearing fruit for the city.”
Born in Mtshabezi in Gwanda district in 1938, Payne was involved in water activism for much of his adult life.

In 1992, Payne claimed that he sourced funds from donors in Holland for the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project but the donors withheld the funding after the government insisted the funds be channeled through treasury.

In the same year, Payne formed Operation Desperation Trust with the aim of raising funds for the water project. Some of the trustees included Pius Ncube, David Coltart and Israel Ndlovu.

Efforts to get more details from family members last night were fruitless.
The $1.2 billion National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP), which was first mooted in 1912, is regarded as the permanent solution to the region’s perennial water problems.

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