The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Correspondent
GOVERNMENT’S people-centered development initiatives across the country are laying a solid foundation for socio-economic development through increasing productivity, creating jobs and improving income for the rural population to lead decent lives.
With women and girls being the majority of the marginalised, Government’s thrust will be to narrow the gender gap through increasing girls’ enrolment in school, prioritising women’s health and nutrition, income generation and giving them a voice in making decisions that affect them.
Some of the key projects being implemented include the drilling of boreholes, establishment of nutritional gardens, which will, not only improve the quality of food and nutrition, but turn subsistence into commercial farmers.
One such example is Mupambawashe Village in Makoni West Constituency where the community has expressed gratitude to Government for setting up a Village Business Unit (VBU) to bolster local economies and improve livelihoods.
The overarching goal is to enhance both nutrition and income generation within the communities and beyond.
As the country aims to become an empowered upper middle class economy by 2030, Government has come up with the Agricultural and Rural Transformation Strategy which seeks to increase crop, livestock, fisheries production and productivity for food security.
This was revealed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, last weekend in his home area of Dowa (Ward 13), Makoni West.
Minister Muswere, who was elected the legislator for the area for the second consecutive term, has been commended for spearheading programmes which seek to improve the quality of life, support the empowerment of everyone, develop and preserve local assets, strengthen cohesive projects to deliver the development of the grassroots and create durable community assets based on local needs.
Community leaders last Sunday held a developmental feedback meeting at Gurure Primary School where Minister Muswere’s projects like computerisation of schools, drilling of boreholes, and livestock pass-on initiatives were commended.
Chief Makoni applauded Minister Muswere for being responsive to pressing needs of the communities he leads, saying his intervention is having a positive impact on the wellbeing of rural people.
Mr Magondo stands next to a water storage tank mounted to ensure adequate supply of the precious liquid at Gwangwadza Business Centre
“We are really happy with what Government and Minister Muswere are doing in my area. We had serious road issues here, but as the MP of the area, he intervened and attended to all the roads. All roads in the constituency are now trafficable and motorists are moving smoothly. Minister Muswere has drilled several boreholes in Makoni West Constituency which have eased access to clean and safe water by communities. Government is also setting a VBU in Mupambawashe Village, among others in my area,” said Chief Makoni.
Headwoman, Ms Liah Mupambawahle said Minister Muswere is spearheading the empowerment of women and youths through a livestock pass-on scheme and also providing food aid for the elderly and vulnerable, while learners are getting vital learning material for free.
“He launched a livestock pass-on project here, in which we received pigs, goats and chickens. He has promised to expand and include sheep and cattle.
He is providing food hampers on a monthly basis to the underprivileged members of the society, especially the elderly and orphans. Schools are receiving textbooks and exercise books for learners to use.
Government is also providing free education, through BEAM, to over 200 learners at Gurure Primary School.
“All the four business centres in my area now have boreholes courtesy of Minister Muswere. We are in the process of setting up community and individual gardens because water is now readily available,” she said.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development chairperson, Honourable Getrude Mutandi, who graced the meeting, said the projects being implemented by Government and Minister Muswere have direct impact on women.
“The provision of water helps to alleviate sanitation and hygiene issues which mainly affect women. This also ensures the establishment of gardening projects and guarantees food and nutrition security.
“As President Mnangagwa has always been saying no place and person should be left behind and we are here at Gurure Primary School where work on water infrastructure is underway,” she said.
