The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
ABOUT 30 Village Business Units (VBUs) have been successfully established across the country under the Presidential Rural Development Programme being implemented through some Government agencies.
Some beneficiaries of the VBUs are already receiving dividends, while others are expecting dividend pay-outs of up to US$3 000.
The establishment of the VBUs follow the launch of the Presidential Rural Development Programme in 2021.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) spokesperson, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said they are working with Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) and other agencies to make this dream come true.
Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, ZINWA is set to drill and equip 35 000 boreholes in the country’s 35 000 villages, and these boreholes are the anchor component for the establishment of the VBUs which comprise a one-hectare drip irrigated horticulture garden, water storage reservoirs, fish ponds and where possible orchards and poultry projects.
These boreholes will also provide drinking water for the villages, as well as providing water for livestock and dip tanks.
ARDA develops the business case for the VBUs and assists in their registration as formal companies to be run on sound commercial lines using the local people.
AMA assists the VBUs in the identification of markets for their products, which also determine the crops they can viably produce.
To date, the VBUs have grown an assortment of vegetables, including cabbages, carrots, onions and tomatoes.
In Manicaland, the VBUs were established in Chisuma, Temaruru, Tamburikayi, Hakwata, Chichesa, Mutema Secondary and at Chief Mutema’s homestead.
“The VBUs have proved to be a game changer for the beneficiary rural communities whose lives are being transformed in terms of food security, employment creation and enhanced income generation.
“Beneficiaries, who are both employees and shareholders of the VBUs, are already sharing success stories in which they are now capable of meeting their needs such as the payment of school fees for their children,” said Mrs Munyonga.
Chief Mutema has embraced the initiative and said: “We promise we will not disappoint. We always wanted to have a reliable source of water.
“Our people now have safe drinking water and we have also started planting crops in the garden. We will be an example in this area,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Ngonidzashe Manyukwe expressed joy saying their lives are now on a firm transformational path.
“We are grateful for the Presidential Rural Development Programme. Some of us never thought we would see such real development in our lifetime and we welcome this programme.
“We are already looking forward to our first dividend after selling the current crop,” he said.
Meanwhile, a total of 1 446 boreholes have since been drilled across the country’s eight rural provinces since the commencement of the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
The programme is part of the Rural Development 8.0 being spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
Other components of the Rural Development 8.0 include Pfumvudza/ Intwasa, Presidential Fisheries Scheme, Presidential Poultry Scheme, Presidential Goat Scheme and the Tick Grease Scheme.
