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NewsDay

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Govt should double efforts in Matabeleland provinces

Opinion & Analysis
MATABELELAND North has for a number of years now been ranked as the poorest province in the country, while Matabeleland South is ranked fourth.

MATABELELAND North has for a number of years now been ranked as the poorest province in the country, while Matabeleland South is ranked fourth.

NEWSDAY COMMENT

Farming in these two provinces has often failed due to low rainfall and a climate that hardly favours rain-fed agriculture.

As statics will also show, these are two areas with some of the highest number of child-headed families, with the number of orphans also very high.

It only makes sense, therefore, that the government doubles its efforts in those areas, as there is a clear need, but instead, the provinces feel they are perennially left clutching the short end of the stick.

In the latest Parliamentary Hansard, it is revealed that the three Matabeleland provinces — including Bulawayo — got the smallest amounts under the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), yet a case can be made that they are the most deserving provinces and they deserved more.

It is revealed that Bulawayo had 222 Beam recipients and a total spending of $18 996; Matabeleland North had 487 and a total spending of $42 537 and Matabeleland South had 540 with a total spending of $47 229.

On the other hand, Harare had 851 recipients spending $78 836; Mashonaland Central had 1 190 spending $106 458; Mashonaland West had 1 357 spending $129 998; Manicaland had 1 440 spending $129 864; Mashonaland East had 1 572 recipients spending $139 660; Masvingo had 1 632 spending $147 116 and Midlands had 1 632 recipients spending $146 533.

Such skewed distribution of resources is likely to further feed into conspiracies and people of Matabeleland will cry foul that they are marginalised.

The government may give all sorts of excuses and claim not to be marginalising the areas, but on the look of it, those crying foul may have reason to.

For example, there are 1 249 Beam beneficiaries in the three provinces, which is less than the number from Midlands, Mashonaland West or East.

For some, there is no other striking example of structural discrimination as this, and the government really has to act on this as a matter of urgency.

National resources should be distributed equally and fairly if the country is going to prosper and only developing some regions at the expense of others fosters resentment.

The government has a duty to strengthen unity in the country by ensuring that resources are distributed equitably and in a fair manner, rather than in instances where others feel short-changed.

Zanu PF has always wondered why it performs badly in Matabeleland provinces in elections and the answer is quite simple. It is because the people in those areas feel they are discriminated against and do not get a fair share of national resources.