malvernmugadzikwa
Nokutenda Tobve
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) plans to establish more than 1 000 ward livestock and drought mitigation centres in ecological regions four and five.
The move is aimed at helping communities build resilience capabilities in the event of a drought. Each centre will be equipped with a solar-powered borehole, and livestock drinking and feeding troughs.
There will also be a livestock sales centre.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Mail, Zinwa head of corporate communications and marketing Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said 248 boreholes had been drilled so far.
“Zinwa is also set to establish 1 035 ward livestock and drought mitigation centres in areas in ecological regions four and five to help communities build resilience capabilities in the wake of the El Niño-induced drought,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“The centres will typically comprise a solar-powered borehole, a half-hectare drip technology garden, livestock drinking and feeding troughs and livestock sales centres.
“To date, a total of 248 boreholes have been drilled in the regions as part of ongoing efforts to set up the centres.”
Overall, these centres will equip communities with the tools needed to endure droughts and potentially come out stronger. It is envisaged that the livestock drinking and feeding troughs will ensure that animals have access to clean water and potentially drought-resistant fodder.
Livestock sales centres are geared towards helping farmers sell animals before they become malnourished due to drought, providing income to buy food or invest in promoting resilience to drought.
The Government recently directed that individuals will now only be allowed to sell their animals through ward-based business units to ensure buyers do not short-change farmers during the current drought season.
Meanwhile, Zinwa has drilled close to 3 000 boreholes countrywide to anchor the development of village business units (VBUs) that are being established under the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
“At least 164 villages, 44 schools and 20 youth centres have so far benefitted from the 228 village, school and youth business units established under the Presidential Rural Development Programme,” added Mrs Munyonga.
“A total of 2 972 boreholes have since been drilled to date under the programme, with 1 166 of the boreholes having been fitted with bush pumps for the provision of drinking water for beneficiary communities.”
The Presidential Rural Development Programme, she said, is the flagship scheme under the Rural Development 8.0 model.
Under the initiative, Zinwa is set to drill 35 000 boreholes in all the country’s villages, 9 600 boreholes for schools, while 4 500 others are earmarked for youth business units.
“These boreholes form the anchor component for the establishment of village business units, school business units and youth business units whose components typically include the solar-powered borehole, 10 000-litre water storage tanks, one-hectare drip technology horticulture garden, two fishponds and a communal water point,” she added.
“The village business units are run on a purely commercial basis, with the local communities being both shareholders and employees.
“Arda (Agricultural and Rural Development Authority) assists with the management of the village business units and their registration as formal companies, while the AMA (Agricultural Marketing Authority) secures markets where produce from the VBUs is sold.
“The Agriculture Finance Corporation provides funding for the units.
“Since the launch of the Presidential Rural Development Programme in 2021, communities have benefitted from the programme, with some beneficiary villages earning as much as US$3 000 in dividends and as much as US$50 in monthly payouts.”
Of the 228 village, school and youth business units, 57 are in Manicaland province, 16 in Mashonaland West, 35 in Mashonaland East, 29 in Masvingo, five in Harare, 34 in the Midlands, one in Bulawayo and 10 in Matabeleland South.
In Matabeleland North province, 10 villages, schools and youth business units have been established, while 31 are in Mashonaland Central.
Online Reporter