$1m set aside for youths goat project

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Zanu-PF Youth League has initiated an empowerment programme for its members to get contracts to supply materials and services to companies as well as start a goat project.

The party set aside $1 million for a national goat project where each province will get 1 000 goats to kick-start the project.

On Friday, the Youth League in Matabeleland North visited some companies in Hwange and Victoria Falls to negotiate for contracts on behalf of its members.

This was followed by the launch of the goat project in Monde, Hwange District with a seed capital of 50 goats to roll out the empowerment programme.

The goat project will now cascade to cells in all the seven districts after identifying beneficiaries.

Matabeleland North Zanu-PF Youth League chairman Tamuka Nyoni, encouraged youths to form companies to be able to win tenders and market their products to companies and hotels.

“We met Hwange Colliery and Victoria Falls management before coming here. We were supposed to meet other companies as well but they demanded that we make prior appointments. Those we met were interested in our idea and told us their requirements.

“At Hwange Colliery they told us to list down all services we are able to provide and we will be sending this list to them during the week. We are delivering the list this week and what we are saying now is that let’s form companies and those already with companies may we prepare ourselves whether it’s to supply fuel, sand, or any other services,” he said.

He said the programme targets youths from cell level up to province.

“The party sourced some money which the Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi was supposed to explain to you today but unfortunately he had to attend the pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo.

“The 50 goats we launched today will benefit the provincial executive and the party has set aside $1 million to provide goats which will be distributed to the province which should get 1 000. The party will provide male goats to boost and speed up multiplication. These goats are not for individuals or to go and pay lobola. All we need to do is form co-operatives or groups because some paperwork needed is easily accessible to groups,” he said.

He said there is a ready market for goats in China and Indonesia where a goat is sold for around $400 each.

@ncubeleon