The Sunday Mail
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa (centre) appreciate some entertainment during his Zanu-PF Star rally at White City stadium yesterday, looking on on the right is the Bulawayo Province Minister of State Affairs Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo and on the left is the party’s Bulawayo province Chairman Ald Dennis Ndlovu…
Government has lined up a number of deals with friendly countries in Africa and Asia for resuscitation of industries in Bulawayo and acceleration of Zim-Asset’s implementation, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
At a Zanu-PF star rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday, VP Mnangagwa said Government was prioritising key parastatals such as the Cold Storage Company and the National Railways of Zimbabwe for revival.
The star rally was to drum up support for the five Zanu-PF candidates in Bulawayo province who are contesting Wednesday’s House of Assembly by-elections.
VP Mnangagwa also revealed that South Africa had approached Government on the possibility of drawing water from the Zambezi River, a development he said would benefit Zimbabwe financially and allow for completion of the Zambezi Water Project.
He said several multinational companies had expressed interest in setting up base in Bulawayo.
Further, Zimbabwe has opened talks with Equatorial Guinea on beef exports to that country.
“When President Mugabe went to Nigeria for the inauguration of President (Muhammadu) Buhari, he also visited Equatorial Guinea where he held talks with his friend, President (Teodoro) Nguema (Mbasogo). Equatorial Guinea is a very rich small country, which has a lot of oil.
“President Mugabe’s friend expressed they would want beef from Zimbabwe and he said yes. At the moment, they are getting their meat from Argentina. On Thursday, we had a Cabinet meeting and we agreed to inject money to revive (meat processor) the Cold Storage Company.”
He added: “We would want to capture that market we have been given by Equatorial Guinea. Instead of them getting their meat from Argentina, they should start getting it from us. After injecting money into CSC, we will create employment and resuscitate the beef industry in Zimbabwe.
“This region has a conducive environment for cattle-ranching and when we revive the beef industry, it will come with a lot of downstream benefits.
“South Africa sent their Minister of Water who met and convinced (Minister Saviour) Kasukuwere on their proposal. They want to work with us to get water from the Zambezi. They will give us money, which we will use to implement the Zambezi Water Project. That project will pass through this region, going to South Africa with South Africa paying us for the water. Matabeleland region will also benefit from the project, and water problems in Bulawayo will be addressed.”
On the state of industry in the city, VP Mnangagwa said: “Bulawayo was the hub of industry, but now most factories (have closed) because of sanctions that were invited by the MDC. But if you look at the last two to three years, the economy has been growing despite the sanctions.
“There are a lot of global companies looking for relocation. We have conducted a study on what attracts companies to a country and we are working on making the environment conducive for these companies. These big companies already have markets around the globe and are looking for areas to set up base in and operate from.
“We have selected Bulawayo as one of our Special Economic Zones, which will benefit from the relocation of these companies. The relocation of these companies will benefit the city in terms of employment-creation, among other things.”
The VP revealed that Zimbabwe had engaged India over rehabilitation of the local rail network and construction of new railroads to increase exports via Mozambique’s ports.
Japan, he said, was also interested in buying Zimbabwe’s coal.
Regarding Sino-Zimbabwedeals, he said: “When President Mugabe went to China last year, Chinese President Xi Xinping told us to come up with projects that his Government would fund. As we speak, the onus is now on us to come up with the projects. “We are on the brink of flying. Sanctions or no sanctions, no one will stand in our way. We are a sleeping giant.”
Among those at the rally were ministers Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo (Bulawayo Provincial Affairs), Saviour Kasukuwere (Environment, Water and Climate, and Zanu-PF Commissar) and Christopher Mutsvangwa (War Veterans Welfare Services); as well as ruling party Politburo members Cdes Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, July Moyo, Joshua Malinga and Absolom Sikhosana.
