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Michael Magoronga, [email protected]

GOVERNMENT will fast-track the reconstruction of Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe following a directive by President Mnangagwa to quickly restore the infrastructure that was damaged by illegal mining activities at the institution.

Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also Zanu-PF chairperson revealed this while addressing thousands of party supporters who thronged Amaveni Stadium recently for a rally to drum up support for Cde Energy ‘‘Dhala’’ Ncube who is vying for the Kwekwe Central parliamentary seat.

At the moment, the learners are camped at Sally Mugabe Primary School grounds where they are using tents as classrooms after their school collapsed into a tunnel due to illegal mining activities.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Globe and Phoenix Primary School issue was giving the President sleepless nights hence he has called for a quick solution.

“We have since tasked Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Senator Larry Mavima to fast-track the identification of land so that a new school can quickly be built. Children cannot continue learning under such difficult conditions,” she said.

She also condemned illegal mining activities in the area and urged all miners to regularise their operations.

“President Mnangagwa is saying all those who want to mine should do so properly after going through all necessary steps to regularise their mining activities. We are also told of some people who are abusing the name of the President and using it to grab some people’s mines. That should stop and everyone should benefit from the country’s resources,” said Minister Muchinguri.

Small-scale miners contribute about 60 percent of gold delivered to Fidelity Printers, the minister said, which makes the sector key to the economy but should be organised and formalised to benefit the country much more.

She also said the opposition-led Kwekwe City Council was a liability to the community as it has piled huge water bills on residents and yet fails to render proper service delivery.

“For that reason, President Mnangagwa has sent me to tell you that the Government will look into the water bills issue. But before that, the Government will facilitate the drilling of five boreholes across the city so that everyone can have proper water for drinking,” said the minister. 

“But the President is still looking at a number of options so that we can have a permanent solution to the water problems.”

Turning to the constituency, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri hailed the party for being united ahead of the elections after holding peaceful primary elections that saw Cde Ncube winning the battle against Cde Kandros Mugabe who is now running for a Midlands Provincial Council post and is playing a key role in drumming up support for the party and Cde Ncube.

“These two were nemeses during the primary elections and they fought so hard. I am aware of the division that was caused by the two as party chairman. But I am glad today to stand before you with a united front as the two have decided to put their differences aside and put the party first,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

“This is what the President is always talking about when he says we should be united. We should put the party first before personal gains. We should remain united and fight the common enemy, which is the opposition.”

She said President Mnangagwa was like the Biblical Moses who is supposed to take Zimbabwe to Canaan.

“Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, we have already outdone ourselves given the milestones we have made in developmental projects. It’s for all to see that we have addressed the power challenges through the construction of Hwange 7 and 8, we have also refurbished the Robert Mugabe Airport into a state-of-the-art facility, and construction of the new Parliament building is among some of the developments the Second Republic have achieved,” she said.

“In a short period of time, we have become wheat self-sufficient and we are even exporting. The mining sector has already achieved a US$ 12 billion mining economy through various projects implemented by the Second Republic. All these point to a good leader who is worth another term so that he can take us to the promised land,” she said.

Cde Ncube will battle it out with former councillor, Mbekezeli Ndlovu of MDC-T and incumbent Judith Tobaiwa of CCC.