Online Reporter
The Herald, 9 September 1991
THOUSANDS of freedom fighters found themselves without a job at independence. Those who were educated prior to crossing over to Mozambique and Zambia to join the war were quickly absorbed by the fast swelling civil service.
Thousands more, however, opted for the classroom to acquire the education that the Smith regime had put beyond their reach. Others went back to their villages where they still struggle to eke out a living on impoverished land.
But the more ambitious took advantage of millions of dollars many donor agencies were pouring into the development of the infant co-operative movement in the country.
When the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement bought 1 574ha of land on what was formerly Rippling Waters, near Bikita Minerals, 22 ex-combatants and their families moved in with high hopes for the future.
The settlers were to be greeted by scores of NGOs among them Christian Care and the Lutheran World Federation who willingly took the fledgling co-operative under their wings.
Thus in September 1985, the Kuvamba Youth Co-operative came into being. Today, the membership has dropped to 11 following the departure of some founding members who became disillusioned with the slow results of their venture.
The secretary of the co-operative, Cde Albert Mangena, says the co-operative has been through trials and tribulations and at one time critics called for its demise.
The co-operative faced acute cash flow problems stemming from continuous drought conditions prevailing in Masvingo province. Things were made even harder when the co-operative’s entire 1989/90 crop was wiped out by a bush fire, depriving it of revenue amounting to $37 000.
Livestock production also took a nosedive because there was not enough fodder for hundreds of cattle and pigs on the farm.
Lessons for today:
After independence, many freedom fighters were left without jobs. Those with prior education joined the civil service, while others pursued education or returned to rural life. Some ex-combatants seized opportunities provided by donor-funded co-operative programs. The Kuvamba Youth Co-operative was formed in 1985 by 22 ex-combatants and their families, showing initiative and hope for self-sufficiency.
NGOs like Christian Care and the Lutheran World Federation played a crucial role in supporting the co-operative. Despite setbacks and reduced membership (from 22 to 11), the co-operative persisted.
