adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
THE Mutasa twins, Innocent and Gerald Benza have continued with their quest to develop the marginalised Mutasa Central community following their setting up of sawmills that have created employment for 300 youths.
The sawmills were commissioned in September and has come as a welcome development to the youths who most of them have been idle for years after finishing school.
Despite losing the 2013 harmonised elections to MDC-T’s Mr Trevor Saruwaka, Innocent and his inseparable twin brother, Gerald have remained visible on the ground, initiating different income generating projects for the community.
The twins’ spokesperson, Mr Kudakwashe Remba, said their quest was to turnaround the economic fortunes of the marginalised Mutasa community.
“It does not mean we had turned our backs on the community as some people think. We have been working silently behind the scene and results are there for everyone to see.
“The Benza twins have the Mutasa community at heart, a reason they have remained visible in the constituency.
Despite having sawmills, we have also secured land to establish a timber plantation in the district. We have noticed that many players in the timber industry are not investing in the future by having plantations and we thought of having a timber plantation for use by future generations.
“Our vision is to create employment for future generations because we should always look beyond the horizon,” said Mr Remba.
He said they were also aiming at turning Mutasa Central into a greenbelt by harnessing water from Osborne Dam, Pungwe water pipeline and perennial rivers for irrigation development.
“Not all areas in Mutasa receive good rains and we have approached relevant authorities like Zimbabwe National Water Authority and other stakeholders to develop irrigation schemes in the area.
“Irrigation development is the way to go to ensure food security, both at household and national level. We cannot continue mourning the effects of climate change on the weather and rainfall patterns without offering solutions. The solution is through water harnessing from available water bodies in the constituency. The land is blessed with good soils, but yields are usually poor because villagers rely on rain-fed agriculture. We all have a role to play in the implementation of Zim-Asset, especially the food and nutrition cluster,” he said.
Besides irrigation development, the Benza brothers have been availing capital to youths to embark on poultry and piggery projects. On empowerment projects, the Benza brothers have managed to assist qualified students from the constituency to secure teacher training places at colleges in Mutare.
“The pilot project has benefited 25 people. We want to increase the sponsorship package this year to ensure that many less-privileged people benefit.
“We have different talents and our duty is to ensure that people realise their dreams in life.
“In Ward 16, the Benza brothers managed to assist a bright albino child by paying school fees. The child scored four points during last year’s Grade Seven examinations.
“We are not targeting the youths only, but also the aged. We have senior citizens in our society who are struggling to make ends meet and we are also there to assist them.
“We will be handing out foodstuffs and small grants to them for their survival.
“Senior citizens contributed a lot to this country and they deserve to enjoy their last days on earth.
“We know that the economy is not performing, but we should not fold our hands and watch our senior citizens wallow in abject poverty,” he said.
Mr Remba said to improve on accessibility of areas, they would be constructing footbridges in all wards.
“We will avail all the necessary building materials and the community will provide labour. It will be employment creation in a way because those who will be working will be paid,” he said.
Last year, the brothers sponsored the sprucing up of Mutasa Police Station, contributed immensely towards the burial of the late Chief Mutasa by providing buses to ferry mourners to the funeral as well as hosting the belated 21st Movement celebrations at DC Mutasa that was attended by thousands of people from across Manicaland.
In ensuring that youths stay away from substance abuse, the Benza brothers are bankrolling soccer tournaments at every ward in Mutasa Central where winners will be getting $1 000 that will be used to start up income generating projects.
The winners per ward will qualify for the constituency tournament.
Online Reporter