Harare – In response to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Binga South legislator, Fanuel Cumanzala has issued a stark rebuttal, stating that the national vision of leaving “no one and no place behind” remains a distant reality for his constituency.

While acknowledging the “laudable” national commitments, including a 6.6% growth target and a focus on climate adaptation, Cumanzala painted a grim picture of the local realities in the Binga District and Zambezi Valley.

“Far too often we hear that ‘no place will be left behind’. Yet in Binga the service delivery, infrastructure, opportunities remain severely lacking,” said Cumanzala.

He called on government to expedite the upgrading of the Cross-Dete/ Binga road and other feeder roads to open the district for tourism, markets and investment.

“The provision of reliable energy and water is important. Communities should be provided with backup power for pump stations, ZINWA and ZETDC should coordinate and provide reliable supply and ensure communities are not forced to fetch water from hazardous sources,” he said.

“Recognise the unique vulnerabilities of riverine/fisher folk communities and climate-sensitive agriculture; support sustainable fisheries, livestock insurance, drought-resilient crops, and market access for local products such as baskets, fish, tourism services.”

In his address to parliament, Cumanzala detailed a series of critical challenges facing the community. Residents reportedly endure weeks without reliable water, at times forced to draw water directly from the “crocodile-infested Zambezi River.” Deplorable road conditions are constraining tourism and market access, while traditional livelihoods like fishing and livestock farming are under severe strain from overfishing and drought.

Cumanzala also raised the alarm on social issues, noting that children are being withdrawn from school due to hunger and poverty, leading to a rise in child labour.

The MP called for a direct and immediate translation of national strategy into “concrete deliverables.”

He presented a list of specific demands for the government, including investing in education with better school infrastructure, teachers, and vocational training linked to the local economy.

Cumanzala also called on government to guarantee and ensure transparent community benefits from mining and tourism ventures in the region.

He concluded by emphasizing that for the people of Binga, the national vision is more than policy—it is a matter of “survival, dignity and opportunity.”

“The vision set by the President is laudable,” he said. “But vision becomes meaningful only when translated into bricks, roads, pumps, schools, jobs and dignified lives.”