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Honourable Minister Francis Nhema resign today
Rejoice Ngwenya
October 12, 2012

Zimbabwe-s natural resources are under siege. In 'occupied- farms, indigenous trees are decimated indiscriminately as hordes of desperate 'investors- scavenge fertile agricultural land for minerals and fuel wood. Mr. Francis Nhema, ZANU-PF praise-singer and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources watches - powerless and bemused. As if to prove he is the epitome of governance failure, even the roads to his village - one off the Shurugwi/Masvingo trunk and the other off Mvuma/Gweru - are caricatures of vehicular horror. Tongogara 'growth point- is an iconic place in his province, not least that it is named after liberation stalwart Josiah Tongogara who perished mysteriously in a 'car accident- 33 years ago. Mr. Nhema and his party have completely failed to get a ten-kilometre stretch of road paved to this centre. Most 'career- ZANU-PF ministers pave rural roads right up to their living rooms. He derives pleasure from exponential desertification!

Under Nhema-s watch, ZANU-PF-s clandestine 'indigenisation- has devastated conservancies as party cronies embark on wildlife looting sprees. Department of National Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, Caroline Washaya confirms that only 680 rhinos remain in Zimbabwe. Of late, a company with ZANU-PF links has started constructing luxury tent camps at Mana Pools, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Zambezi valley. The looters were probably issued an exploration licence to extract minerals despite the possibility of damaging the very fragile ecosystem that Nhema is paid to protect. There are reports of a Chinese 'Pioneer Column- on a mission in the Hwange Game Reserve - prospecting for coal!

Mr. Nhema-s Environmental Management Authority [EMA] has excelled in intimidating MDC-run municipalities, yet exonerates ZANU-PF perpetrators. Harare City and Norton Town Councils have been threatened for 'polluting- Manyame River but Chinese-owned diamond mines in Marange contaminate local rivers with impunity.

Minister for tourism Walter Muzembi is vilified by his ZANU-PF colleagues for opposing the 'indigenisation- of another World Heritage site - Save Valley Conservancy. Mr. Nhema insists on a 'stakeholder consultation- as he fends off 'hostile fire- from conservationists. He is alleged to have issued hunting permits to a coterie of party loyalists: Joseph Chinotimba, Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, Major General Engelbert Rugeje, Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Lovemore Matuke, the late Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge, Health Deputy Minister Douglas Mombeshora, ZANU-PF central committee member Enock Porusingazi, Members of Parliament Ailess Baloyi, Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri, Noel Mandebvu and former lawmaker, Shuvai Mahofa. Mr. Nhema knows Zimbabwe is hosting United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly next August, but would rather quench the insatiable thirst for plunder than safeguard Zimbabwe-s global reputation [or what is left of it].

He has allowed another company with ZANU-PF links to construct Mall of Zimbabwe on one of Harare's remaining wetland areas, the Borrowdale Vlei. Another ZANU-PF backed Chinese diamond company has violated environment laws by constructing a sprawling hotel on wetlands opposite the National Sports Stadium.

How much more misery shall this man be allowed to inflict on our fragile environment? How many more wild animals must be eliminated, trees cut, rivers polluted before 'honourable- Francis Nhema accepts his incompetence at executing simple ministerial functions? Zimbabwe-s environment is critical for our development. The noble act is one of his urgent resignation. If he seek re-election in 2013, we the electorate must choose wisely between good and evil; poverty and prosperity; darkness and light; civilisation and underdevelopment. If - by the grace of God - his party does not bludgeon and intimidate voters, we might as well start penning a eulogy for ZANU-PF.

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