Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described Zimbabwe as a small nation with big brains, which is in a transition of transforming its people’s mind-set.
Addressing mourners gathered at the burial of the late National Hero Cde Kenneth Manyonda today, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is under-going the 4th Chimurenga, Chimurenga Chepfungwa (4th liberation of the mind-set).
“Today under what we have dubbed the 4th Chimurenga, Chimurenga Chepfungwa, we are accelerating mind-set change amongst our people. Primary products must be value added to improve incomes and a higher quality of life for our people. We are a small nation, but we are thinking big and creating more employment and empowerment opportunities for our people as we develop, modernise and industrialise our motherland, Zimbabwe,” said the President.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa further encouraged professionals and youths to be agents and champions of diversified agricultural systems, investment, industrialisation and transformation.
“As we pay last respects to our National Hero, I urge professionals and the youths in particular to be agents and champions of diversified agriculture systems, investment, industrialisation and transformation,” he said.
He also reiterated that rural electrification and new solar technologies, aided by the rural Presidential borehole drilling programme are some of the game-changing programmes lined up by Government for the rural landscape.
“Rural electrification and new solar power technologies, complemented by the massive rural borehole drilling programme being undertaken by my Government, are changing the rural landscape.
“This should motivate more of our people to redirect resources and personal savings towards the modernisation and transformation of our country’s rural areas,” the President said.
Since the ascension of the Second Republic, Government has redirected resources to the rural areas resulting in rural industries such as Mwenezi Mapfura/Amarula wine factory which has since gone commercial. In Mutoko the Second Republic had also established a tomato paste factory which was also commissioned and is now functional. Currently Government has set up funds to establish two plants in Mashonaland Central where Masawu products will also be produced and sold on the market.
The Second Republic has also managed to raise US$800 million for the rural electrification programme which is already underway. Hwange Power Plant 7 is due to go online on 30 November, thus adding 300 MW to the national grid. Another 300 MW Power Plant 8 is also due to go online in March 2023 thus making a total of 600MW. Gwanda Solar power plant in Matebeleland South will produce a further 100 MW. All these initiatives are part of Government’s efforts to boost power out-put ahead of rural electrification coming on-line.
