Rtd Lt Gen Engelbert Rugeje
Moses Ziyambi
MASVINGO – Zanu PF Masvingo province plans to confront Bikita Minerals which it accuses of isolating itself and failing to bankroll activities of the party now that the country is headed for elections in a few months’ time.
Speaking at a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting held at Victoria Junior School Hall last week, Zanu PF national political commissar Rtd Lt Gen Engelbert Rugeje attacked Bikita Minerals for what he called was the mining company’s reluctance to play ball.
The purpose of the meeting was to formally introduce the newly-appointed Zanu PF politburo members and was attended by several MPs and high ranking officials in the party including secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana, national youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi, provincial secretary for security and national chief whip Lovemore Matuke, provincial affairs minister Josaya Hungwe and provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira.
In his remarks, reserved his harshest criticism for Bikita Minerals which he said needed to be shown who is in charge.
“Ndanzwa vamwe vambotaura nenyaya yeBikita Minerals, ndokwandinobva ikoko. Kunoda kumbosvikwa chairman. Hatidi kutaura tiri pano apa nekuti tingaita makuhwa amambotaura aya….Tinonatsa kunonzwisisa kuti chii chavari kuita….Musangano unotonga haufaniri kupemha. We must not be beggars. Tisu tiri kutonga, why should we beg?
“Misangano yakawanda yandinoziva inini pasi rino ukaenda kuCommunist Party of China, it’s one of the richest, richer than the Chinese government. Isu tiri mupower as Zanu PF toswera tichiswera tichitambura tichishaiwa mari yekuenda kuindependence.
“Tofanirwa kunge tine power tine chipimo chekuti tikangofunga kuti toda mutambo wedu izvezvi, totoita ipapo. Ndokutonga kwachozve. Ungati unotonga chirudzii usina masimba eeconomy yenyika, usina kubata economy yenyika? Masimba slogan? Masimba ekutenderera muchiita marally? Aiwazve, simba rokutonga rinoonekwa nekubata upfumi hwenyika….Ndozvatichakukumbirai kuti muite VaHungwe nevamwe venyu. Onai kuti musangano wapfuma, musangano waita mari….,” said Rugeje to roars of approval from the floor.
He said the hosting of party functions at school disturbed learning, arguing there was no reason why the party cannot build its own facilities to host events.
He said the party ought to be richer than the state, as he claimed was the case in China where the ruling communist party holds extensive economic leverage.
The lithium miner has however been investing considerable resources to uplift surrounding communities and supporting local developmental projects.
The company sponsors the Chief Marozva social football and netball tournament which this year attracted up to 13 teams. The company also donated quarry to Bikita Rural District Council for renovation of bridges as well as to KwaVaMuzenda heritage site in Mucheke.
In education, Bikita Minerals last year built and donated a fully-equipped computer lab to Bikita Fashu High School and last year built a quality ECD centre that can accommodate up to 100 children from the mine community and surrounding areas.
Besides, the mining company initiated a feeding scheme benefitting thousands of primary school children in the district. The scheme has been going on since 2015 and is credited for reducing the hunger-related school dropout rate in the district.politics
