The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Correspondent
MUTARE Farm Prison has been urged to take advantage of the Farm Mechanisation Scheme and help in the attainment of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1)’s 2025 target of having lessened food insecurities to levels below 10 percent.
The prison was a beneficiary of the scheme and received a tractor, planter and a cultivator.
Speaking at the commissioning of a solar-powered borehole on Tuesday, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyeri said the eco-friendly boost would help in growing the country’s economy by guaranteeing the attainment of food security.
The borehole was donated to the prison by the Church of Christ.
“It is prudent to note that prison farms recently benefited from the farm mechanisation scheme programme, and having a reliable supply of water to such farms is an important step for ZPCS to help in the attainment of our 2025 target.
“To this end, as Zimbabweans, we must all work together to increase productivity and see that our target is achieved,” she said.
Minister Matsikenyere said the agricultural sector has the power to build back the country’s economy, and help in the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle-class economy.
“I am very happy that more boreholes are still to be sunk with the aim of enhancing market gardening, thereby ensuring the availability of fresh nutritious food, and income for inmates and the institution.
“While this ensures a healthy prisoner and a healthy officer, is also means that our economy is growing,” she said.
Minister Matsikenyeri said it was the duty of every citizen, including inmates, to grow the economy in whatever way they could and urged inmates at Mutare Farm Prison to take advantage of the borehole and help the country achieve economic emancipation.
“This ensures that all of us, including inmates, are working together to grow a robust economy, not withstanding one’s behaviour towards the law. We are all Zimbabweans and need to make sure that we contribute in growing the national economy.
“The fact that inmates at this prison acquire market gardening skills will also help them start a new life when they are released,” she said.
Church of Christ bishop, Dr Campion Taonezvi Mugwenhi, said they were on a major drive to provide water to communities through sinking boreholes.
In thanking the church for the gesture, Officer Commanding ZPCS in Manicaland, Commissioner Spetosomusa Moyo-Chinobva, said the gesture will go a long way in alleviating water shortages and enhancing agricultural productivity at the prison.
“Water is lifeand as the ZPCS Manicaland, we want to thank you for giving us life. We will ensure that this water is utilised for maximised production,” she said.
Meanwhile, 98 commissioned ZPCS officers from across Manicaland were conferred with new ranks.
The commissioning saw four superintendents, from Chipinge Prison, Mutare Farm Prison, Mutare Farm Prison and Rusape Prison respectively being promoted to chief superintendents.
58 assistant principal correctional officers were promoted to principal correctional officers, 25 principal officers received chief correctional officers’ badges, nine chief correctional officers received superintendent barges, four superintendents were promoted to chief superintendents.
