By Staff Reporter
MUTARE: Vice President Constantino Chiwengwa has revealed that government will construct a proper border post at Katiyo in Cashel Valley to facilitate smooth trade between local communities and counterparts in neighbouring Mozambique.
He confirmed the plans while addressing a recent campaign rally at Nedziwa Secondary School in Chimanimani West constituency.
“The issue of establishing a full functional border at Katiyo has been talked about a lot by local communities,” he noted.
“After elections, the new Zanu PF administration has seen it fit to pursue the matter and establish a fully functional border post here. The border post will help boost trade in Cashel Valley.”
Zimra Commissioner General Mazani recently urged government to establish a fully functional border post in the Burma and Cashel valleys to reduce cases of smuggling as well as ease pressure at Forbes border post.
Chiwengwa also told villagers that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration had opened developmental prospects which had been shut down by the previous (Robert Mugabe) regime”.
“We have embarked on a re engagement process and we have opened up closed avenues,” he said.
“We want to retool and open new industries that compete regionally and internationally.
“We want to create employment for our graduates who are coming from the colleges.”
He said the country would leverage its natural resources such as minerals to finance developmental projects and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
“We have over 40 types of minerals and we want to use them to bankroll and fund our developmental projects,” said Chiwenga.
The vice president assured villagers that value addition and beneficiation of minerals such as diamonds would now be done locally for the benefit of host communities.
Chimanimani hospital would soon be developed into a referral centre equipped with skilled human resources and state of the art medical equipment.
“Children below the age of five and those above 65 years of age will now access medical treatment free at government hospitals.
“Blood for pregnant mothers and those involved in accidents will now be free. Maternity fee has been scrapped and no students will be chased away for non-payment of fees.”
