adminNqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
MORE than 10,000 people in Matabeleland North have been registered under the government’s food for work programme.
The programme targets able bodied people who need food aid but do not qualify under the vulnerable members of society. It is run under the government’s ZimAsset Food and Nutrition cluster to assist the needy.
Speaking during the provincial launch at Lupane’s Makhovula Irrigation Scheme, Matabeleland North District Development Fund coordinator, Lawrence Ndebele, said villagers that develop their communities would receive food.
“In the whole of Matabeleland North, we’ve 10,202 people who’ve registered for the programme. This group comprises people who didn’t harvest anything in the past farming season and need food aid. Instead of just giving them food, the social welfare department devised a method where they work for their food,” he said.
Ndebele said they would be working for 15 days each month on infrastructural development.
“They’ll be working in schools, clinics, roads and other infrastructure to develop their areas,” he said.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North, Cain Mathema, said it is important for the able bodied to work for their livelihood.
He said there was a need for communities to commercialise their farming activities.
“I want our people to practise commercial farming because this has a ripple effect on their lives. This is because when they farm for commercial purposes, they have enough for themselves and for sale. This is good for the economy,” said Mathema.
He said irrigation schemes in the province can plant millet and export it to countries that use it as staple food.
“There’re those people who planted millet in the last farming season. They produced beautiful crops. Matabeleland North is good for millet farming and it’s an opportunity for the farmers to take advantage of irrigation schemes,” he said.
Online Reporter