Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Francis Nhema yesterday castigated the people of Matabeleland for failing to take up opportunities only to complain when people from other regions seize them.
Speaking during a Community Share Ownership Trust Scheme strategic meeting in Lupane yesterday, Nhema said Matabelelad North in particular was the richest province in the country in terms of natural resources yet few people in the region benefited from its resources.
“If you come from Matabeleland North, you should not only think of the province but go to other provinces and get resources to develop yours,” said Nhema. “When the land reform started, you did not come forward saying the exercise will not succeed. I did not see anyone from Matabeleland North coming to Shurugwi looking for land.”
Nhema said when indigenisation started, “you were folding hands. You will later come to me moaning, son-in-law, your people have come to take our resources.
“Stand up and go to Harare and look for companies that are being given to people there and in Gweru. I hear there are idle youth funds in the bank for this province and I was shocked to learn you do not know about those funds. We will hold empowerment workshops, but afterwards you will go empty-handed.”
Nhema said the Tongogara Trust Fund in his constituency was a result of persistence on the part of Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
“I am embarrassed to come here and give you an impala each when you own them,” he said. “I can arrest you for shooting wild animals yet they belong to you. We want the chiefs to control their respective areas and tell us in government the programmes you are engaged in.”
Nhema said there were institutions in Harare that taught wild life management courses yet, “they do not have wildlife. I hope that if Lupane State University is complete, the chiefs and youth will be enrolled because if you fold your hands, LSU will be filled with my nieces from Shurugwi.
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“At the National University of Science and Technology you are not there, you are also not there at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda, so where are you?”
Echoing Nhema’s sentiments, Kasukuwere said he was tired of chicken project proposals coming from Matabeleland.
“Why don’t you request for a kombi to hire to tourists or big vehicles for game drives?” he said.
