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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT is set to build a primary and a secondary school for the marginalised San community while setting up a quota system for them to join the country’s security services

The Government, in line with National Development Strategy NDS-1 which is informed by Vision 2030, has said no citizen will be left behind in its developmental agenda.

In that regard, Government has taken deliberate actions to ensure that the San are also not left behind as the nation forges ahead towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

Cabinet yesterday said Government has started to implement development programmes towards improving the lives of the San community.

During a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said several projects have been identified to uplift the lives of the San community.

“Projects so far identified by line Ministries to improve the livelihoods of the Tjawo communities include goat rearing, market gardening and dam scooping.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has since met with the Tsholotsho Rural District Council to identify possible sites on which to build primary and secondary schools,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Treasury will fund the construction of two primary and secondary schools for the Tjawo, out of the 50 schools which it has undertaken to finance.”

She said the Registrar-General’s Office has issued more than 5 000 national identity documents to the San community.

The registration blitz occurred following an interactive session between the San and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe where it was resolved that minimal requirements will be demanded from the San.

Minister Mutsvangwa said to empower the marginalised San community, security services are set to recruit them into their systems.

“While the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have already completed recruitment for the current year, they have undertaken to recruit from the San communities in the forthcoming recruitment cycle.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has recently flighted advertisements which they have shared with the Tjawo communities, and a quota has been reserved for them,” she said.

Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government is focusing on accelerating the provision of non-monetary benefits to health workers as a short to medium-term measure to stem the brain drain in the health sector.

“Accordingly, completion of the model flats to be constructed for health professionals across the country’s provinces is being expedited.

The Civil Servants vehicle loan scheme rates are being reviewed, while a strategy whereby Government acquires vehicles for health worker beneficiaries, with the loan being amortised through an agreed framework is being worked out,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Regarding the provision of canteen or cafeteria services at health institutions, seed money will be provided to revamp and operationalise existing canteens as well as construct new ones where the facilities are not available.” — @nqotshili