Staff Reporter
President Mnangagwa reaffirmed his Government's dedication to averting hunger in the country amidst the challenges posed by the current drought.
In his address during the official commissioning of the reconstructed Pupu Battlefield Memorial Site in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province, yesterday, the President acknowledged the adverse effects of climate change on the summer cropping season, assuring the nation of his administration's resolve to ensure that no Zimbabwean faces starvation.
“Now I want to talk about the present. Your Government is committed to continuing to have food security. This year we have drought, and climate change is affecting our region in Sadc. But we, the Government of Zimbabwe, will ensure that no one will die of hunger,” the President emphatically stated.
This commitment comes at a crucial time when the country is grappling with the ramifications of insufficient rainfall, which adversely impacted on impacting agricultural outputs and water availability.
To counteract the effects of climate change and enhance the sustainability of economic projects, President Mnangagwa highlighted his Government's initiative to drill boreholes across the country.
“Under the Second Republic, we shall continue to make sure that every single village has a borehole. We have 35,000 villages in this country, and we have a programme that every single village shall have a solar-powered borehole,” he said, outlining a vision for universal access to clean water.
Further addressing the nation's resilience in the face of environmental challenges, the President shed light on the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project, a monumental undertaking expected to be completed by year end.
This project is seen as a pivotal strategy in mitigating the impact of climate change and securing water resources for the region.
“This year, in Matabeleland North Province, we are going to complete the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani. We shall also build more clinics and schools here in Matabeleland North,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa said that the completion of Gwayi-Shangani dam will create a greenbelt extending from Shangani to Bulawayo.
Meanwhile, the Pupu Battlefield Memorial Site, commissioned by President Mnangagwa yesterday, was the theatre of the battle in which General Mtshane Khumalo led the Ndebele Amabutho to a historic victory against British forces on December 4, 1893.
This site, marking a pivotal moment in the country's resistance against colonial subjugation, has been rejuvenated to honour the true heroes of the battle.
