The Member of Parliament of Bulilima East Mathias Ndlovu showered praise on his fellow Kalangas and said they would continue to support the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front because it was the present and the future.
Ndlovu said in the 31 July elections more people voted for President Robert Mugabe in his constituency than for him, adding “ZANU PF is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent”.
“The people of Zimbabwe know the road they travelled during the colonial bondage. The MDC tantrums about human rights and democracy will not wash. ZANU PF brought democracy in 1980. As the Speaker will say, in democracy ‘The minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way’.”
Ndlovu said Bulilima was the land of heroes, Kalanga heroes, like Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, John Landa Nkomo, T.G. Silundika, Swazini Ndlovu, including John Dube whose remains still lie buried in neighbouring Zambia.
It was also home to living heroes, Taffi Moyo, Sharpshoot David Mongwa and Jane Ngwenya.
Bulilima was also the home of national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo.
Here is his full contribution to the parliament.
MR. M. NDLOVU: My name is Mathias Siqhoza Ndlovu, representing Bulilima East Constituency. I am glad I have had to speak on the same day when my triplets have spoken. You heard Mangwe and Hon. Nleya has just spoken. They are Mangwe and Bulilima West, so it makes it easier for me not to bombard members with some of the details that they have put forward.
I would like to congratulate the Speaker and his Deputy, and all of us members of this august House for being accorded the honour that we were accorded by our various constituencies regardless of our political differences. I will congratulate my own leader, Cde. R.G. Mugabe for the resounding dribbling of the quisling MDC.
I come from the land of Bulilima, the land of heroes, or should I say, of the Kalanga heroes like Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, John Landa Nkomo, T.G. Silundika, Swazini Ndlovu, including John Dube whose remains still lie buried in neighbouring Zambia. Bulilima is home to living heroes, Taffi Moyo, Sharpshoot David Mongwa and Jane Ngwenya. These are just a few of our Kalanga heroes.
The people of Bulilima, just like any other border region, bore the brunt of the liberation war, as they were decimated by the racist regime for supporting the national war of liberation. They still suffer the scars of the unfortunate disturbances during the first decade of our independence. In spite of this, the people of Bukalanga offer their unconditional loyalty to the unitary State of Zimbabwe. This is amply demonstrated by the just ended harmonised elections. In my constituency, Bulilima East, Cde. R. G.Mugabe got more votes than this hon. member. Bulilima is home to national Chairman, Ambassador. Cde. Simon Khaya Moyo, Senior Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
The people of Bulilima East salute the revolutionary and visionary leadership of President R.G. Mugabe and wish him many more years of life. The people of Bulilima East appreciate the loneliness Cde. R.G. Mugabe had to contend with during the days of the Inclusive Government.
He had to work with the two quisling parties of MDCs, so as to protect the unitary nation state and national sovereignty. Mr. Speaker Sir, opportunists proffered all sorts of advice to the President, even some renegade liberation war veterans urged the President to take up arms to crash the MDC traitors. The Unity Accord was in mortal danger. The great revolutionary stood firm in this whirlwind which threatened to reverse the revolutionary gains of the people. Those who, yesterday, fed from Cde Mugabe’s palm, (university boys and uncooked trade unionists) jeered at him and ZANU PF (ZANU yaora) they said.
They bayed for the revolutionary’s blood, wishing he be dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Come July 31st, the people knew better. They sent the MDC quisling leader, Sir Morgan to the political dustbin. Sir Morgan leaves a sad legacy for his clan, that of having been a former trade unionist, former prime minister, losing presidential contender and soon to be, former MDC-T President. He should stop talking about stolen elections. Likewise, his MDC enthusiasts must stand, dust themselves as the future belongs to all patriotic Zimbabweans, losers and victors. We have national institutions to rebuild together, a nation to heal, clothe, shelter and feed. The victors must continue the politics of inclusivity. It is a shame that the losers do not want to cooperate with the victors, ZANU PF.
In the national spirit demonstrated by Cde. R. G. Mugabe, they must heed author, George Orwell. In his book, Animal Farm, he said “he who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the future controls the present”. ZANU PF is the present and the future. ZANU PF is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
The people of Zimbabwe know the road they travelled during the colonial bondage. The MDC tantrums about human rights and democracy will not wash. ZANU PF brought democracy in 1980. As the Speaker will say, in democracy “The minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way”.
Sanctions
In February 2009, after the formation of the Inclusive Government, MDC’s King Arthur, talking to a Ghananian – British film maker on camera said and I quote, “We, in our wisdom or lack of it have decided to bury the hatchet and put Zimbabwe first. We are saying to everyone in Europe, in America, those who put sanctions on our people, on our country, please, Zimbabweans have decided to work together. The sanctions don’t make sense anymore. The sanctions were put to support me. I don’t want them anymore. So, who are you to impose them on me?
The sanctions were put to support Tsvangirai. He does not want them anymore. So why do you patronise me? How can you know better than me what is good for any country”. Tsvangirai did not oppose Arthur Mutambara’s utterances. So what is he talking about today? What is MDC’s agenda for Zimbabwe? Does MDC support Zim Asset? We need answers from them. Sanctions must go.
Development
Now let me address my constituency matters in brief. Bulilima East includes Plumtree town and the communities to the rural north and Bulilima East Constituency borders with Bulilima West and Tsholotsho South Constituency. It has a population of over 104 000. The mainstay of the economy is live animal husbandry. Most of its active population works in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, estimated over million. There is no industry to talk about except a few retail shops.
Plumtree town has a nodal road network connecting Mangwe, Bulilima, Bulawayo, Tsolotsho and Botswana. It is the nerve centre of all business activity as well as the gateway to Zimbabwe, boasting one of the biggest border post in Sub-Saharian Africa.
Road Network
Most of the feeder roads were last graded in 1958 when the pioneers needed access to our natural resources. The new computerised vehicles flash no road signals as soon as you drive along these pathways. We could be the only constituency without even a centimetre of tarred road. Our only town, Plumtree, does not have a single traffic light, shame! shame on us. We propose that the Government construct a network of rail link to have commuter trains move around the constituency linking Plumtree border post, Solusi University, Fairview and Figtree resettlement farms to Bulawayo. Remember, our ancestors were the first to witness the arrival of the first train into Zimbabwe (1897). No harm that we be the first to see the first rural rail road network.
State Roads
The entire road network is gravel. We have these roads:
- Plumtree-Thekwani Mission-Chief Mpini-Tsholotsho which is 45km.
- Plumtree-Headman Skhathini-Solusi Mission which is 46km.
- Matjinge-Chief Gampo-Khami-Chief Masendu-Ndolwane which is 86km
District Development Fund Roads.
- Diba-Gambe Mission-Chief Kandana-Maneha-Tsholotsho South which is 35km.
- Ntoli-Headman Manguba-Huwana which is 15km.
As can be seen by tarring these roads, you have access to the whole constituency, just 250km. All these roads pass through the chief’s homesteads.
Water Harvesting
Most water weirs were built by Mr. Jordan (Majorodani) between 1933 and 1939. After World War II, three dams were built, Moza, Tjankwa and Quested. Most water weirs were built through food for work programmes but they dry up by October. The situation is very depressing on newly resettled farms. New farmers are failing to access water from dams in the former commercial farms. The few boreholes are far apart and are constantly breaking down. The few windmills in former commercial farms are broken down. Resettled farmers travel more than 5km for water, which is also unsafe for human drinking.
A number of dams were pegged, but due to sanctions, nothing happened. All that remains are plans that are gathering dust in the RDC offices. Nanda Dam, Mabungwe Dam and Maneha Dam, to name a few, are yet to be constructed. Hallis and Nunu dams burst 10 years ago and have not been rehabilitated. Hallis Dam serves wards 2 and 21. There is urgent need to build a sand abstraction facility on the Manzamnyama (Nata) river for Huwana ward 8 as the ward has neither rivers nor dams.
Rain water just seeps through the porous Kalahari sands. The new Water Act discourages farmers from drilling boreholes and building dams. ZINWA levies do not match service provision.
Schools
While a number of schools have been built by Government, a lot more schools are needed. The number of primary schools is 15, while that of secondary schools is 6. The few day secondary schools are very distant, ranging from 13km – 25km from the feeder primary schools. This has seriously affected the girl child, leading to high drop-outs at grade 7.
There is need to build some boarding school. The constituency needs at least one skills training centre. Most schools are understaffed, especially in the fields of science and mathematics. The majority of the schools received computers from President R. G. Mugabe but the challenge they face is that of non-availability of electricity.
Teacher Vacancies
Secondary teachers are 570, while the establishment needs 585. Primary teachers are 210, while the establishment needs 256. There are vacancies for 20 headmasters and 17 deputies. In ward 3, 8 and 18, children cross the Manzamnyama River to go to secondary schools of Dikili, Shaba and Tshabanda in Matabeleland North.
Health and Child Care
The constituency has no district hospital. The only referral hospital is in Plumtree town and serves two districts. Plumtree town is on the edge of the constituency and people have to travel between 40 to 80km to reach the district hospital. Pregnant women have to walk between 7km to 13km to reach the nearest health centre. There is one doctor to 104 543 patients, one nurse to 1 800 patients and one environmental technician to 10 000 people. The district has 15 health centres and no waiting mothers homes in 12 health facilities. Ten facilities have no electricity and running water.
The Plumtree mortuary is too small and it takes 9 bodies. St Anne’s School of Nursing’s roads and bridges make it difficult for transport operators to avail transport services for both commuters and the sick even during the dry season. Sometimes, you have to drive 20km round in order to reach a place that is 2km across the river. Upgrading Lady Stanley Hospital (64km from Plumtree town) into a district hospital and the building of clinics at ward level may be the answer.
Livestock
Animal husbandry is the main activity in my constituency. We salute the Government for the redistribution of the land. We now have some grazing land for local communities and newly resettled farmers. What is worrying is grazing control. People move their stock without due regard for overstocking or holding capacity, leading to land degradation due to overgrazing on some farms. Some farmers have land which has never been trodden by a domesticated animal, through no fault of theirs.
Mitigatory Measures
Establishment of pasture committees to include EMA, DDF, AGRITEX, VIDCOS and Farmers, to eradicate wild life poaching and cattle thefts.
Rehabilitate/establish dip tanks, boreholes, dams and windmills. Establish feedlots in each ward, this should also cater for small livestock like goats and sheep.
Source tractors to till the land.
Cold Storage Commission should guarantee a ready market for the farmers including restocking. Rehabilitate the numerous irrigation schemes including establishing new ones. Newly resettled farmers must re-establish farm paddocks that they have vandalised to control overgrazing.
Establish crime committees/conservations in newly resettled farms to curb crime and control veld fires and over. Look at issues regarding unit tax and EMA levies.
Ward Boundaries
Wards 3, 5 and 19 are too large to be administered by one councillor. In view of this, the people of Bulilima East request the Government to consider creating a new province to be called Western or Bukulanga to cover Bulilima and Mangwe districts and parts of Matopo. We are at the same time very cognisant that Zimbabwe is diverse but one. The present situation, where one has to travel two hundred and twenty six kilometres from Plumtree through Bulawayo to Gwanda, is frustrating. Matabeleland South province stretches from Beitbridge to Plumtree , a distance of 421km. Bulawayo to Harare is 435km. It is a further request by the people of Bulilima East that the two constituencies of Bulilima East and Bulilima West be turned into two stand alone administrative districts.
In conclusion, as I travel to this august Assembly, I cross the Shangani River, where British imperial forces were vanquished by the Ndebele warriors. Near Shangani River, there is a small plaque in memory of the so called Allan Wilson patrol is buried in the Matopo Hills. Why are these pioneers still buried with arch-imperialist Cecil John Rhodes on top of the Matopo Hills, our most sacred national shrine? King Mzilikazi, the founder of Ndebele nation is buried in the same hills below their graves. Surely, if Cecil John Rhodes wanted to be buried at the world’s view as he named the Matopos, he should have chosen Table Mountain, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Instead he chose to dominate us spiritually even in death.
I think, of the countless heroes, living and departed, as I embark on a journey to this august Assembly. I dream of a day we shall reclaim our heritage by removing Cecil John Rhodes’s bones from Njelele, where our rain God resides. I dream of a day when the nation shall celebrate the Lobengula’s brave worriers who fought gallantly at the Shangani River. I dream of a day when the Khalanga people will have their own traditional structures restored by installing their deposed. I dream of a day Zimbabwe sets up a Heritage Fund or Foundation to research into the achievements of our ancestors in the fields of medicine, agriculture, mining and archaeology et cetera. I dream of a day that Zimbabwe history should be a compulsory subject for all our children from day one at school. I dream of a day the Government shall commission patriotic historians to re-write and teach Zimbabwean history. Our history must teach our children about the cruelty of 500 years of black slavery including the role played by Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Robert Gabriel Mugabe in liberating Zimbabwe.
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