The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
Councilors for Ensuring Development (Councilors for ED) are in the process of establishing orchards and nutrition gardens across Manicaland and beyond.
Councilors for ED is going around the nation empowering people with start-up packs and knowledge on how to establish and sustain nutrition gardens and orchards.
In an interview with Post Business on the sidelines of a workshop held in Zimunya last week, National Affiliates trainer, Cde Weikson Chadambuka said in Manicaland, they have so far trained people in Nyanga, Mutasa, Makoni, Chimanimani and Mutare.
They intend to cross into Chipinge and Buhera in the coming weeks.
Mr Chadambuka said the programme will accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030 by addressing food security, import substitution, poverty alleviation, access to safe and clean water, as well as the creation of employment opportunities.
“We are going around the nation training people on these self-sustaining projects to improve their livelihoods. As we empower the people with the knowledge and starter packs, we are also lending them a listening ear on their challenges.
“We will go back to Government to present these challenges and since our President is a listening person who leaves no one and no place behind, he will come back with solutions for the people’s challenges,” he said.
Cde Chadambuka said the empowerment projects will eliminate the donor dependency syndrome.
“Not only are we training community members on nutritional gardens and orchards, we are also training them on goat rearing and poultry farming,” he said.
Another trainer, Cde Reason Mushayike said nutrition gardens are an affordable way of ensuring balanced nutrition in every rural home.
He said the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme that will see a borehole being drilled in every village compliments the nutrition gardens and orchards project.
“We are happy that a borehole is being drilled in each village across the country. This will make the nutrition garden and orchard project easier for community members,” he said.
ZANU Pf candidate for Ward 32 in Mutare South, Councilor Shadreck Chiripamberi said the projects will help in improving people’s livelihoods. “We are very thankful and the people are also happy. There has been a very good turn up from community members and this shows that the project has been well received,” he said.
Beneficiary, Ms Charity Muchenje said the project will improve rural women’s livelihoods.
“I am very glad that no one is being left behind. When I start my nutrition garden, I will be able to take care of my family and pay school fees for my children using the money that I will earn from selling the vegetables.
“As rural women in Chimanimani, we are very happy because of this development. Previously, these trainings were only made available to women in urban areas,” she said.
