via Bulawayo24 NEWS | ‘Bulawayo will never die,’ says Mugabe 19 September 2014 by Farirai Machivenyika
President Mugabe yesterday said Bulawayo was chosen to host the forthcoming 6th edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 under 20 Youth Games as part of plans to revive the industrial capacity of the country’s second largest city.
The Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, said this at the occasion to light the torch for the Games at State House yesterday.
“I wanted it done for Bulawayo. Bulawayo, of all our cities, is the one which has suffered the most from sanctions, because in the olden days it was established as the industrial city before the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
“It was the centre and is still the centre, the capital of our railway systems and of course for some of us who have lived around there and whose parents also worked that side, have that much sentiment within us, an undying sentiment for Bulawayo. So there it is now, this is it now along with other activities, socio-economic activities are also taking place, reviving the city, reviving the industries gradually, the railways system, the transport systems,” he said.
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President Mugabe said even former Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, had attempted to have the Games moved from Bulawayo to Harare citing shortages of funds.
The President said during Cabinet meetings then, it appeared most ministers shared the same view with Mr Coltart.
“It appeared the view in Cabinet was becoming acquiescent and I said are you becoming spineless Mr Coltart, come on, strengthen your spine, games will be held in Bulawayo.
“It jolted him a bit and he said well, we will try and he went on coming to Cabinet time, reporting progress here, the lack of it elsewhere, especially in regard to the funding of the programme and right up to the day we had our elections, July 31,” he said.
President Mugabe said he was surprised to hear that the secretary general of AUSC, Mr Mvuzo Mbebe, had also tried to have the Games moved from Bulawayo by approaching Vice President Joice Mujuru.
“But I am glad that there has been success, but I didn’t know there was another attempt and why should they have gone to the Vice President.
“So if the VP can say yes, she will be the right person to go to the President with the strong view, what’s that? Tinoenda kunambuya kuti shoko risvike kunanamai nanababa, you see. I would never have accepted it and I am glad she rebuffed him and said no.
“Well, these are some of those things. It is when the challenge is there that we say do we do it or just drop it? And you say no, we just have to do it and you have timed the issue. You have funds, lack of them and it appears that no, the impediments over weigh the positive and you say no, impediments yes but we can do it and there you are, we are doing it.”
President Mugabe said Government wanted to stem the migration of people from Bulawayo to Harare or South Africa, saying that was why Government was committed to reviving the industrial capacity of Bulawayo.
Meanwhile, Mr Mbebe has commended the Zim-Asset economic blueprint, saying improvements in infrastructure in the Bulawayo was testimony to its success.
“I have already seen Zim-Asset at work in Bulawayo and I want to thank you for that. We have seen infrastructure development both economic and otherwise.
“During the Games we are going to see Zim-Asset at work, we are going to see tourism like you have never seen before in Bulawayo. I hope the Honourable Minister of Tourism (Walter Mzembi) is ready,” Mr Mbebe said.
Mr Mbebe added that more than 1 000 jobs had been created in rehabilitating infrastructure in Bulawayo while at least 150 residual jobs would be created after the Games.
COMMENTS
Is he sincere?
You singlehandedly killed during GUKURAUNDI, madala!
Holding of a particular tournament is a once off. Its a shame that you know that its your administration that killed the one time industrial city of Southern Africa. However this one off occassion will not do anything. Reviving Bulawayo to its best days will not see light of day just like the sunk titanic ship of 15 April 1912 as long ZANU PF is in power. Rather this one off time even will showcase the potential the city has and what it will never have. Bulawayo sin is that in the early years mugabe’s father went there and married a beautiful woman, that Nkomo’s Mugabe’s arch revival emerged from there, the Entumbane war of Zanla and Zipra forces, gukurawindi and 1889 or so ndebeles and shona wars. How unforgive is this leader. Knowing or unknowing but its a fact. Tell who he ever forgive and never revist. In 1980 whites/blacks Reconciliation he forgave them but evicted them in 1999-2000 and killed man. In 1980 he tried unity with ZIPRA and after the Entumbane uprising he raised against Ndebeles and killed man Gukurawindi. In 1999 majority of people supported MDC and the labour movement, he staged Murambatvina, and evicted many people from urban settings. During the students activism he punished the uprising by withdrawing government funding. In the early 1990 teachers supported Zum under Tekere, he punished them bu low salaries until now teachers are beggers as opposed to the era of Muzorewa a one time leader around 1979. Bu the way he has never forgiven his on father for leaving the family going to Bulawayo. The father is dead and buried long time ago, what an unforgiving personality
What Bulawayo needs is a long term arrangement for water stability. A lot of companies in the late 80’s relocated citing water problems. This man is getting madder by the day. It is not sanctions that made Bulawayo what it is. It is Zanu pf.If the Zambezi project had started in the 80’s we would of had a green belt in the Matabeleland region from Zambezi to Bulawayo and by now Mat south would be also be benefiting.Now he wants to blame sanctions. What a clown.
The geriatric has double standards
Why now?
Mugabe “speak with forked tongue.” Always. Always.
Bulawayo is already dead
Just as Mugabe says “Bulawayo will never die” so the people of Bulawayo saying that “Mugabe will never live (for ever).” Yes, that is the light at the end of the tunnel. We all know that Mugabe will die – and that creates hope and keeps that hope alive. It has been a long road but it can only be getting to the end.
TALKING IS CHEAP BOB, WE WANT ACTION, HAUNETE HERE KUTAURA?
A load of geriatric bull***t. What more drivel can this old fool dream up.
The man is an embarrassment….he can hardly walk and you get the feeling he can barely read his script. Why would he whittle on about Coltart and the V/P not to mention that the city has suffered so much from the dreaded sanctions. Every subject he speaks on has to include a dig at the unity gov. and of course SANCTIONS!!!!
What a laugh shows you how thick our govt. really is!Do you think an event which will probably be a non starter with no power and water will be a success,!This sort of thing doesn’t save cities and create everlasting employment.Byo is dead and I can promise you that ,as the past years up to the collapse of the Zim dollar has proved that!
Please Bob spare us your stinking bullsh*t. That city is already dead and the only way it will be alive again is when you are dead. So believe me, you killed that city and you will never see it alive again. Bob you are a dying psychopath and you belong to hell. Uchatongwa Bob, nguva yako yave pedyo
He NEVER gets tired of telling lies. Remember the person behind ‘GUKURAHUNDI’ and who who refused to apologise?
Washington Irving once said
“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.”
Bulawayo I shed tears for you.
If you believe sanctions have anything to do with the carcassification of Bulawayo then you are deluded. Only Mugabe can come up with such tosh because he thinks everyone is as stupid as he is. It is an insult to the residents of Bulawayo. To minimise his own Government’s role in killing a once vibrant City is disgusting. Mugabe must own up. The rot he has presided over is everywhere in every City/Town including Gweru ,Shurugwi, Zvishabane you name it. Give us a breat tell the truth for once.
CAN THOSE CLOSE BOB TELL HIM THE HONEST TRUTH THAT HE IS NOW TOO OLD FOR ANYTHING .BANTU KUSINWA KUDEDELANWA.HE MUST GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE.
Read what coltart said about the same meeting the old man’s recollection of what was said is way off
It does not make sense to me to destroy and then talk of rebuilding a city from scratch.Why then was it destroyed and for what logical reasons? Where was leadership when the looters were deliberately buying and destroying these industries? To add injury to a desperate situation they allowed the remaining companies to relocate to Harare.It is practically impossible to rebuild Bulawayo to what it used to be in the foreseeable future.
If you are to rebuild Bulawayo a lot of infrastructure will be needed eg 1-New dams are needed since the current ones are half filled with sand caused by soil erosion and small scale miners.2-Bring back the power station generation output to its normal level.3-Better local councilors with full knowledge of running a big city to improve roads and sewage system.
The last time my area had street lights is more than 15 years ago during the time of councilor J Malinga.Those guys would listen to complaints and attend to them not our current councilors who give funny excuses for their failures to provide services.I am attempted to refuse paying rates anymore until I see change in the services provided.
100% right
Mixed race Respect to you Mfana we khaya.
Bob, Bulawayo is dead, the agricultural sector is dead, the economy is dead…….hopefully they can be revived when your are dead. Counting the days my china.
Mugabe has made the strongest case of self governance, the time has come and now is when the south shall rise and reclaim the dignity they so justly deserve.