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Chombo
threatens military action
The
Standard (Zimbabwe)
September 11, 2005
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/read.php?st_id=2896
CHINHOYI - Irked by
lack of progress in the construction of houses under the government's
"Operation Garikai", the government is now threatening to set soldiers
on those failing to meet the unrealistic targets set in July.
Last week, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development,
Ignatious Chombo, blasted civil servants for "dereliction of duty" and
warned that soldiers would be deployed to forcibly make them perform.
Chombo was addressing
senior civil servants at Chinhoyi Training Centre on Thursday.
Senior heads of department
were asked to go and relay the message to their subordinates that picnic
time is over.
Chombo, who was riled
by the snail's pace of "Operation Garikai", furiously took to task the
government heads of departments. He directed that they hand over culprits
to the army who will be deployed in all the provinces and who would deal
with them "accordingly". Chombo did not elaborate. Nor did he say under
what law the military would be empowered to punish civil servants.
However most of the
construction is being spearheaded by military personnel.
Addressing the same
gathering Brigadier Nyikayaramba, who is heading the building of houses
under "Operation Garikai" in Mashonaland West, admitted that the operation
had failed to provide even one complete house in Chinhoyi.
But in an all familiar
pattern of the blame game, he accused the British and Americans of planting
"willing tools to derail the process". He said they were going to deal
with them, but did not say how.
When it was pointed
out that progress on construction had been slowed down because of lack
of fuel, Nyikayaramba declared that fuel for the operation was available
and urged the council to use police vehicles if need be.
Although 200 had been
targeted for completion by 30 August, no houses had been completed.
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