We will deal decisively with machete gangs: General Chiwenga

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday urged cooperatives to take advantage of big national projects and provide goods and services to enable them to grow into big companies.

Addressing cooperatives from all the provinces and hundreds of people who gathered at Bindura Primary School for this year’s International Day of Cooperatives commemoration, VP Chiwenga said national projects like the urban renewal programme, which seeks to modernise old and run-down suburbs, will create 25 000 indirect jobs which small to medium enterprises firms should take advantage of.

“The President was in Mutare commissioning the Sakubva urban renewal project. The President said the project will directly employ 20 000 people and 25 000 indirectly.

“Take advantage of such big projects. I urge cooperatives not to confine themselves to low income primary production activities but also venture into value addition in the secondary and tertiary production sector,” said VP Chiwenga.

He also urged artisanal miners to form cooperatives to benefit their members   who are mostly youths and denounced the spirit of individualism and violence perpetrated by machete wielding criminals who are causing mayhem in the mining sector. 

VP Chiwenga said Government would deal decisively with the machete gangs.

He commended housing cooperatives for playing a significant role in providing decent accommodation to the nation but warned corrupt land barons that stern measures would be taken to protect citizens from dishonest practices. 

state media